Last year was unprecedented and came with challenges for everyone, everywhere. There were achievements too though, and those are worth more than a mention. Working with our partners, at YRRTC we delivered 17 kilometres of rapid transit in 2020, completing the first phase of the Viva bus rapidway network that includes 33.7 kilometres of dedicated rapidways along York Region’s busiest corridors. These projects are more than just transit – they are complete street rebuilds above and below the ground. As of the end of 2020, the rapidways, combined with some transit facilities and a bus terminal, have brought $2.7 billion in assets that will benefit communities in York Region for generations to come.
Over the past years, YRRTC has been recognized and received awards for innovative design and technology elements of the Viva bus rapid transit projects. Many factors contribute to the success of our projects – engineering, urban design, architecture, construction, partnerships and collaboration – but there’s one element that isn’t always mentioned: Communications. Our communications initiatives support each project and keep stakeholders and the community informed in new and creative ways.
YRRTC is honoured to have recently been recognized for our digital communications, with multiple awards from AVA Digital Awards including:
The AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design and production of digital communication. Work ranges from digital campaigns to audio and video production to website development to social media engagement to mobile marketing. The Award is judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), whose judges have a reputation for accuracy, fairness and credibility.
We’re proud to deliver creative excellence in support of these complex infrastructure projects!
As you can imagine, we think about traffic signals quite a lot here at vivaNext. They’re a part of everyday life and are essential to get from point A to point B for all users, including transit customers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. The stages of rapidway construction have their own traffic signal stages: temporary and permanent.
When construction begins on any of the vivaNext rapidway projects – such as the vivaNext Yonge Street rapidway project in Richmond Hill – traffic patterns and intersections shift to accommodate the new rapidway lanes. Therefore, temporary traffic signals are installed at signalized intersections. Here are some of the changes you’ll notice:
Vehicle detection technology – “loops”: Prior to rapidway construction and on completed projects, vehicle detection at signalized intersections is done with induction loops embedded in the road that sense vehicles above them. The loops detect vehicles, resulting in a change in the electrical field. This change is transmitted to activate the traffic signals based on the number of cars waiting.
Temp signals and sensors: During construction, however, temporary (“temp”) traffic signals are installed without loops. Since construction activities can damage them, and changing lane configurations can position cars outside of the loops, they can’t be used. So to keep traffic flowing at its best during construction, “Wavetronics Smart Sensor Matrix” technology is installed above the roadway at signalized intersections. This system uses radar sensors designed to detect and manage multiple lanes of traffic. It creates an image which allows the sensors to track the position of each car at the intersection, and activate traffic signals based on the number of cars at any given time. Sometimes, during times of high winds, the sensors can shift – and you may experience longer wait times at these intersections until crews can readjust the sensors.
New loops are installed during final paving: During the final paving stage of construction – before the permanent traffic signals are activated on each of the rapidway projects – new induction loops are embedded in the roadway.
Signal phases and protected left-turns: Each of the signals that an intersection produces [green, amber and red lights as well as transit signals] are called a phase. One of the new phases that the rapidway project introduced along Yonge is the protected left-turn signal [indicated by the green arrow]. This signal allows drivers to make left-turns and U-turns only while the left-turn signal is displayed, which allows for access to properties that are on the opposite side of the road. This phase also allows for improved traffic flow and fewer collisions, as vehicles no longer have to cross multiple lanes of opposing traffic.
Signal cycles: Signal phases together make up a cycle – the total time between the start of a specific display until that display comes up again. Additional time has been added to traffic signal cycles on Yonge, in order to accommodate the phase of a protected left-turn. For instance, if a cycle length at an intersection was previously 130 seconds before construction, it may now be 140 seconds to accommodate for the protected left-turns.
Transit signals: When the rapidway opens for service, buses will be traveling down the centre rapidway lanes for a faster and more convenient transit experience. They will have their own bus signals at each intersection that are connected to a GPS within each bus, and work in conjunction with the regular traffic signals.
have a question?
To ensure transit, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists move through intersections safely and efficiently during rapidway construction, the constructor regularly reviews traffic signal timing and makes any necessary adjustments. If there appears to be traffic signal timing issues, please contact your Community Liaisons and they would be happy to look into your concern.
As rapidway construction on Yonge
Street in Richmond Hill progresses, dedicated bus lanes and vivastations are
being built in the centre lanes.
This means the way that signalized
intersections work is changing – especially if you’re a pedestrian, or a driver
turning left or wanting to make a U-turn.
Here’s what to watch for:
Dedicated lefts and U-turns now
happen at intersections
Signalized intersections will now
have a dedicated left-turn traffic signal. This means that drivers can make
left turns or U-turns only when the left-turn signal is illuminated. The
protected movement through the intersection makes it safe and efficient to get you
where you’re going.
To reach driveways mid-block
To get to driveways located
mid-block on the other side of the road, drivers will no longer be able to turn
left between intersections; instead drivers should make a U-turn at the next
signalized intersection.
Making a left at an intersection is
safer than cutting across multiple lanes of traffic, and ensures that drivers
trying to turn left get their turn, and don’t have to rush through a yellow.
Changes for pedestrians
The new intersections will be wider
with more lanes and new traffic signals. At intersections that will have
vivastations, pedestrians may cross the road in two stages if unable to get to
the other side during the first signal. A countdown signal will indicate how
many seconds pedestrians have left to safely cross the street.
Check out the video, “Rapidway
intersections: safe journeys” for safe navigation of the new
intersections for pedestrians, cyclists, driver and transit riders.
Have you
ever seen a group of people with white hard-hats walking along a rapidway
construction site, although it seems like there isn’t much construction
happening? Have you ever wondered, “How many people does it take to look in a
hole?” or, “Why is everyone just standing around and talking?”
Well, we hope
to help answer those questions.
getting a closer look
The
constructor schedules regular walk-downs of each of our rapidway construction
projects – from one end to another – in order to closely review completed, ongoing
and upcoming work. Different walks have different purposes, including safety
monitoring, the quality of work in progress and the quality of completed
elements to ensure everything works as intended once the rapidway opens for
service.
That’s not
all. As we get closer to a project’s completion and opening for service, the
number of walk-downs goes way up to ensure that everything has been built
according to plan in order to ensure that projects can be opened for service to
the public. Here are some answers to the two biggest questions about walk-downs:
why so many people?
Each team
member on a walk-down has a specific job. And depending on the purpose of the walk-down,
a variety of people with different expertise may participate.
To review
an area before a major work operation, for example, the walk-down team may
include a vivaNext Project Engineer, who would ensure that the work plan is
accurate to engineering drawings; and the Community Liaison, who communicates
the impacts to businesses, residents and other stakeholders.
It may
also include an Engineer from York Region’s Transportation Services, who inspects
the roadway elements – such as street lighting, sidewalks, boulevards, traffic
signals, pavement markings, and signs – and ensures compliance with lane
closure permits;
Safety
Managers ensure that the work plan is safe. And Supervisors from the Constructor
and sub-contractor companies take everyone through the work plan and operation.
In some
cases, municipal and regional staff will join us on inspections– for example, with
water main connections, vivastation construction, paving, and red asphalt in
the rapidways; and for works near Highway 400, provincial Ministry staff may
join the walk-down.
what are they looking for during a walk-down?
Participants
are looking at a variety of factors based on their role within the project team,
and depending on the particular purpose of the walk-down.
Some
participants are specifically looking for possible errors in construction – in new
pavement, installed signs, storm sewers, and other quality concerns to be
addressed.
All items are
documented and while some items may need to be fixed immediately, others will be
addressed during the contractor’s warranty period. Other participants look for
how the operation will unfold and the impact to the community, such as accessibility
for pedestrians. Follow-up walk-downs are then scheduled to review progress on
documented items.
Each
participant on a walk-down plays an important role in order to deliver
high-quality rapidway projects throughout York Region.
STAYING INFORMED
Make sure
to connect with us on social media to receive regular construction updates and
stay in touch! The
best way to stay informed about our construction projects is to sign-up for
email notifications at vivanext.com/subscribe, and to follow us on our
social media platforms.
Despite wavering weather from Mother Nature, crews have been busy with a number of work activities across each of our construction projects in Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Vaughan.
If you’ve been out driving or walking along these projects, you
may feel that construction can sometimes be messy, chaotic, and never-ending. Although
all this work may appear identical, there are actually a number of construction
activities underway, many of which require specialized crews. But, before work
starts on each of rapid transit projects, there’s careful planning that goes on
behind the scenes.
vivastations
There are many steps in building each of the iconic vivastations
across our projects, all which are carefully planned to ensure work can get
completed efficiently, while ensuring everyone – pedestrians, motorists and
construction workers – remain safe. When complete, transit users will be able
to enjoy new technology and innovative features that each vivastation offers.
Building a vivastation is sort of like putting together the pieces
to a puzzle. Each step carefully lays the foundation for the vivastation,
prioritizing consistency, quality, and safety.
As the year progresses and work on our vivastations begins to
unfold, keep your eyes out for each of the following steps that go into building
a vivastation!
1. Excavation, caisson drilling, and finishing
After the existing asphalt and road base is removed in preparation
for construction, circular caissons are drilled 8 to 10 meters (26 to 32 feet)
into the ground. Caissons are reinforced concrete columns placed below ground
that act as the foundation for platforms. First, a large drill is used to
create a deep hole for the column. Next, a steel rebar cage is placed in the
drilled hole. Finally the hole is filled in with concrete.
2. Platforms, barrier walls are formed, poured, and cured
Once the caissons are installed, the concrete station platform and
barrier walls will start to take shape. A concrete slab reinforced with steel
is built on top of caissons to serve as the platform for vivastations. Concrete
for the barrier walls are then formed, which provide delineation between the vivastation
and live traffic, making them a key safety feature of every vivastation.
Prior to the installation of the barrier walls, electrical conduits
are placed within the steel rebar cage. Plywood
forms are used as a mold for the walls and are placed around the rebar. Concrete
is poured into the forms to create the barrier walls. Once the concrete is
hardened, the forms are removed and the barrier walls are smoothed out to
remove any surface imperfections.
3. Steel erection
A steel skeleton – prefabricated offsite and transported by trucks
– is then erected on the concrete barrier walls. Prior to delivery to the site,
the steel canopy is painted with a resin coating, in a champagne bronze colour.
These structures are raised into place by a large crane with
careful maneuvering and precision. Lanes are often reduced around the
vivastation during this procedure to ensure pedestrians, motorists and crews
remain safe.
4. Glass
installation
Each of our vivastations use tempered glass, which contains properties
that strengthen the glass, ultimately creating a safe and durable structure
that covers the exterior of the vivastation.
The glass is pre-cut and tinted prior to delivery to the site.
Construction crews then carefully place the glass onto the canopy, creating our
beautiful, signature blue vivastations.
5. Tile
work on platform
Tile work is then done on the platforms, including tactile tile
work at every vivastation. These tactile tiles are either cast iron or porcelain
plates – depending on the construction project – that act as a textured ground
surface indicator. These tiles are able to assist pedestrians and passengers
who are visually impaired effectively navigate the surrounding environment.
Similar to our bus stops, we install directional tiles at every
vivastation platform. Directional tiles are brown, textured tiles that help to assist
visually impaired pedestrians and passengers in determining accurate direction
of travel.
6.
Electrical and IT systems
The installation of electrical and IT (Intelligent Transportation)
systems are spread out throughout the whole construction process. However, most
of this work happens close to when the vivastations will be completed. Security
and PA systems, emergency call boxes (ECB), lights, and motion-activated
heaters within the enclosed waiting area are installed, along with PRESTO/VIVA
fare vending machines.
7. Fixture
installation
Fixtures common to every vivastation are installed. These include,
but are not limited to, garbage and recycling bins, handrails, doors, signs,
and benches, signaling that the rapidway will soon be open for service.
building
transit for the future
It takes time to build transit that will have a lasting impact on
generations to come. Our construction projects are about more than just
dedicated lanes for bus rapid transit – they’re about connecting people and
places, and providing complete streets for the entire community to benefit
from. Complete streets provide economic, environmental and social benefits that
lead to an overall improvement in quality of life.
Transit riders, residents and businesses are best served when
transit works as an integrated system. It’s crucial for transit services to
work together as a well-planned network, connecting different modes of
transportation and destinations. And we’re proud that our vivastations play an
integral role in connecting the community in a faster, more efficient way.
STAYING
INFORMED
Make sure to connect with us on social media to receive regular
construction updates and stay in touch! The best way to stay informed about our construction
projects is to sign-up for email notifications at vivanext.com/subscribe, and to follow us on our social media platforms.
It was a year of sometimes messy construction on the Bathurst & Centre and Highway 7 West projects in Vaughan in 2018 – but a lot of positive progress was made and multiple milestones were reached! As you take a look at our year-in-review video, keep in mind, the vivaNext rapidway project is scheduled to open for service in these areas at the end of this year.
With the summer months now behind us, the rapidway project in the Bathurst & Centre community continues to make great progress, with all five vivastations under construction, utility upgrades complete, sidewalks and boulevards well underway, and base and final paving making great headway.
With the rapidway scheduled to open for service by the end of 2019, it’s a good time to remember what the goal of the project is: to design and deliver rapid transit projects that attract, move and connect people to York Region’s urban centres.
This goal translates into what’s called a “triple-bottom-line” contribution to our community – specifically social, environmental and economic benefits. They include:
Urban transformation. Emerging along the length of our rapid transit network, traditional suburban development is transforming into more compact urban neighbourhoods that include retail, entertainment, dining, places of worship, residential and offices. As the population of York Region grows and increases in density, we are building transit to service this population.
Connections. The new sections of rapidway will consist of 5 new vivastations along Bathurst and Centre, connecting people from Thornhill to Concord, Woodbridge and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and the subway to Toronto. It will also connect people to the rest of York Region via the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal at Yonge Street and Highway 7, and the future Yonge Subway Extension.
New businesses. As new developments provide new housing choices, the area attracts new employers – businesses that want to be located near transit in order to draw on a well-educated workforce.
Less driving, more moving. As York Region welcomes this new transit and cycling infrastructure and an increasing population, the result is more transit riders and reduced dependency on cars. Less time spent behind the wheel of a car can have great benefits to long-term health because people walk, run or cycle more – for exercise and to get from place to place.
Cleaner air. Every busload has the potential to replace 70 cars, and fewer cars on the road means reduced carbon emissions.
Building transit where the people are. The most popular transit routes go where people want to get on and off. People want to get to where the action is, so routes are planned where shopping, services, jobs, and higher-density housing is already along the way. The Bathurst and Centre neighbourhood is a perfect example of this as the community has a multitude of shops and amenities, multi-story condo buildings and residential streets – and busy Viva routes already service the community.
In York Region, a number of urban centres like Bathurst & Centre are evolving into mixed-use communities. At vivaNext, we’re supporting that change by building a fast, convenient rapid transit system. As part of the Centres and Corridors initiative, York Region has a vision and best practices for new mixed-use development to make sure that it gets built in areas which are supported by higher levels of transit.
We know construction can be messy and disruptive at times, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as we work hard to transform the corridor to a complete street with wide pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, shade-giving trees, bike lanes and rapid transit.
Because safety during rapidway construction is crucial, everyone must do their part. The important messages are: always cross at the designated crosswalk, pay attention to posted signs in and around construction zones, and obey the posted speed limit.
the reasons for bus rapid transit
Once construction of the rapidway is complete and the vivastations are open for service, Viva commute times will improve. Not only that, Viva buses can take advantage of priority traffic signals to help them stay on schedule.
Bus rapid transit also provides a viable option to get around as the population increases over the decades to come. It’s all part of a rapid transit network that connects the Region’s urban centres.
With the rising temperatures, it’s clear that summer is here! Summer brings barbecues, beach days and trips to the zoo. And now that school is over for the summer, kids and their families will be spending more time outside and on our roads. It also means that the construction of our rapidways – on Highway 7 West in Woodbridge, Bathurst & Centre in Thornhill, and on Yonge Street in Richmond Hill and Newmarket – is in full swing.
Summer is our favourite season, not only because of the beautiful weather, but also because it means our vision of efficient and reliable transportation is becoming closer to completion every day.
safety in construction areas is key
Children of all ages are trading in their backpacks and pencils for bikes and basketballs. With school over for the summer, kids and their families will be spending more time outside and on our roads. That’s why we’d like to remind motorists to drive carefully and exercise caution in order to keep kids safe and sound! In construction areas, safety should be even more top of mind – for everyone.
have fun and keep safe this summer
It’s inevitable that drivers can get distracted from time-to-time. The warmer weather and busy summer schedules may create even more distractions, which is why it’s so important to remember to be alert and cautious.
safety is a shared responsibility
When you’re driving through a construction zone or driving through a neighborhood filled with kids playing outside, it’s important to give your undivided attention to the road, pay attention to construction signage, and be alert for pedestrians, construction workers, and cyclists.
Summer brings many fun activities, but it also requires more attention to help everyone enjoy their summer. Remember, safety is a shared responsibility.
Summertime means replacing our winter tires and boots with bikes and running shoes. It also means that it is a busy season as construction ramps up for all the vivaNext projects. As the streets become livelier, the safety of everyone is a top priority.
To assist in getting the message out, you will notice signs and barrels out on rapidway construction routes to guide and raise awareness. To find out even more, check out our latest video: Pay attention to posted signs.
When it comes to vivaNext rapidway construction, signs and markers are the main method of communication to the public. So it is very important for pedestrians, transit riders, cyclists and drivers to keep an eye out for the vivaNext construction signs. It’s important take the time to read and understand them because they’ve been specifically designed and placed for your safety.
sidewalk closures
There are hazards to be aware of on construction sites and proper protective equipment is required to be worn by construction workers and project team members at all times.
It is really important for members of the public to stay out of these construction zones and follow posted signs to stay in designated safe areas. If sidewalk closures occur between intersections, there will be signs posted at the beginning of the sidewalk to help you get to your destination.
cross at designated crosswalks
It may be tempting to cross the street between intersections but during construction, large equipment, lane closures and traffic shifts are constantly changing which makes it difficult for drivers to spot pedestrians crossing unexpectedly.
relocated bus stops
When roadwork takes place near bus stops, they have to be relocated for your safety. Follow the signs for directions to the nearest temporary bus stops.
VivaNext’s blue signs are created to help guide you around our roadwork. Keep your eyes out for signs placed along the construction corridor to help keep construction zones as safe as possible for everyone.
Safety is a shared responsiblity. Remember to watch your step, keep informed, plan ahead, be alert and stay safe.
