Tag: vivaNext

Categories
Announcements Press Rapidways

$1.4 billion for our rapidway projects

Premier Dalton McGuinty announces billions for transit projects
Premier Dalton McGuinty announces billions for transit projects
I’m really excited about this recent announcement. If you haven’t heard – or didn’t click on the link above – vivaNext rapidway projects are being funded with $1.4 billion from the Government of Ontario.

I’m excited because this means faster and better connections for everyone. Let’s face it, the faster, more accessible and more reliable public transit is, the more people will choose to use it instead of driving.

The funding will allow us to put shovels in the ground this year on four specific areas:
1) Highway 7 – from about Jane St. in Vaughan to Kennedy Rd. in Markham
2) Yonge St. – from about Highway 7 to 19th Ave. in Richmond Hill
3) Yonge St. – from Mulock Dr. to Davis Dr. in Newmarket
4) Davis Dr. – from Yonge St. to the Southlake Regional Hospital

But this funding announcement wasn’t isolated to York Region. Premier McGuinty is investing billions on transit projects in the GTA.

While we celebrated this announcement at the office, I began to think about just how much work now stands before us and how some people will likely be skeptical. I can assure you that final preparations will be done and we will begin construction this fall.

I’ll be sure to post pictures!

Categories
Going Green

VivaNext office goes dark for Earth Hour

Viva’s blue buses are some of the greenest in the world. We weren’t in the office during the official Earth Hour, but we still wanted to do our part. For one hour on Friday, March 27, we turned off our lights and had a litter-less lunch. Staff members also received energy efficient light bulbs to take home.

 

Across Ontario the demand for power dropped over 6% and demand was down over 15% in Toronto alone. Around the world, over 4,000 cities from 80 countries turned off the lights. Organizers believe that about a billion people participated.

 

But vivaNext knows that turning off lights for an hour is only part of a solution. That is why we work year-round on transit solutions that will decrease the carbon in our atmosphere.

 

What did you do during Earth Hour to help our environment?

 

Categories
Announcements Press

$3 billion for transit from Ontario Budget

When reviewing the Ontario Budget, one thing became abundantly clear with respect to public transit – there’s a serious commitment to it. The budget set aside more than $3 billion in funding for transit over the next two years!

The budget says the government will be “focusing on quick-start projects”. These are infrastructure projects that are already well planned and in a position to create immediate economic stimulus and create jobs. That’s exactly where vivaNext shines.

I applaud the Ontario Government for making such a significant funding commitment to public transit. Doing so will not only help provide an economic stimulus and create jobs, it will also help future generations to be less dependent on driving vehicles.

The cover of the 2009 Ontario Budget
The cover of the 2009 Ontario Budget
Categories
Urban Planning

Great cities are planned…and then built

We’ve all heard the old adage, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” While popular proverbs can be annoying, there is usually a good reason why people throw them around so much.

Did you know that despite the fact that Rome was built thousands of years ago, it is a shining example of urban planning. The Romans were remarkable, designing their cities in a grid, with two main thoroughfares crossing the city to facilitate the flow of traffic.

The “Rome” axiom is one of the favourites we like to throw around here in the office. Like any infrastructure project, a lot of planning and hard work goes on before a shovel is put in the ground.

Philosopher Leopold Kohr once said: “Men do not love Rome because she is beautiful; Rome is beautiful because men have loved her.” Just as the Romans carefully planned and nurtured their city, we have been working very hard and considering feedback from the community along the way in every detail of the vivaNext plan.

As the plans are put into action over the next few years, we hope that you will be proud of the high quality transit system that we’re building together.

Can you think of a more fitting adage?

Categories
Announcements General vivaNext.com

Welcome to vivaNext

Welcome to the vivaBlog. I’m Dale Albers, Chief Communications Officer with York Region Rapid Transit Corporation. I could tell you we started this blog because my kids thought it would be cool, but that wouldn’t be accurate. Truth is, there are a lot of changes coming to Viva and not everyone has the time to come to public meetings to talk about it.

Don’t get me wrong, turnout at our public meetings has been amazing with hundreds of people in attendance. Even our webcasts attracted over 7,000 unique visitors.

But people don’t just write letters or e-mails anymore. They’re creating wikis, tweeting transit slowdowns, blogging about the Yonge Street Subway expansion and creating facebook groups to discuss how we can make vivaNext a better plan.

But here is the question. If you’re online talking about vivaNext, shouldn’t we be there to listen and participate in the discussion?

That’s what I hope this blog will do.

I’ll post two or three times a week and look forward to following the discussion and interjecting when I can. If you see a post or an article you’d like us to respond to, post it and we’ll chat. I’ll do my best to answer your questions as the vivaNext plan takes shape throughout York Region.

Tell your friends to get onboard and tell me what’s on your mind.

Categories
Announcements General vivaNext.com

Introducing vivaNext

Getting from A to B in style is what you’ve come to expect from us. But more is on the way – we’ve been busy here at Viva central, creating the next generation of rapid transit. We’re calling it vivaNext.

It’s all about connections. Connecting you to the people you want to see and places you need to be. VivaNext will give you more transit options and help create attractive boulevards along the Viva routes.

Soon you’ll be able to get around faster, in style and with a smile. VivaNext will extend the Spadina and Yonge subway lines north, and build dedicated lanes for Viva on Highway 7, Yonge Street and Davis Drive.

So, what do you have to say about vivaNext? Share your thoughts here by posting a comment below.