vivaNext represents the next phase of the Viva Rapid Transit System serving York Region, Ontario, Canada. The vivaNext plan includes two subway extensions, two light rail transit (LRT) lines, and a bus rapid transit (BRT) network featuring dedicated lanes (rapidways) for Viva vehicles.
According to its website[1], the vivaNext plan will revitalize communities, help manage employment and population growth, and improve travel times across York Region.
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Often referred to as a transitway or busway by other transit authorities, the term "rapidway" is used to describe the bus-only lanes being designed as part of the bus rapid transit component of the vivaNext plan.[2]
The proposed benefit of the rapidways is that Viva vehicles will be able travel faster than before, by avoiding the congestion associated with mixed traffic.
While most vivaNext rapidways will be located in the centre median of roadways, they may also be located curbside to accommodate certain conditions. In Markham Centre, rapidways will be constructed through a pedestrian mall.
Rapidways projects funded for construction in York Region are located on Davis Drive, Highway 7 and Yonge Street.[3]
The Davis Drive rapidway in Newmarket will extend 2.6 kilometres from Yonge Street to the Southlake Regional Health Centre.
In November 2009, pre-construction activities, such as utility relocation, planning and geotechnical investigations began for the Davis Drive rapidway. Additional pre-construction activities, such as soil testing, archaeological assessments, building demolition, and removal/relocation of light poles and signs will continue through to the end of 2010. The current project completion date is 2014.[4]
The Highway 7 rapidway is planned to eventually extend from Highway 50 in Vaughan to Reesor Road in Markham, and will connect three major urban centres in York Region - Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in Vaughan, Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre in Richmond Hill, and Markham Centre in Markham.
In December 2009, an on-site event was held near Enterprise Drive in Markham to mark the start of rapidway construction. The segment of line was completed by January 2011.[5]
The following segments of Highway 7 rapidway construction will commence between 2010 and 2015:
Additional segments will be constructed between 2016 and 2020:
The remaining segments, extending the Highway 7 rapidway out to York Region's east and west boundaries, will be completed past 2020 if the project receives additional funding.
The Yonge Street rapidway is central to the vivaNext plan and will extend north along Yonge Street from Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre at Highway 7 to Green Lane in Newmarket.
In February 2010, a public open house was held for the first segment of the Yonge Street rapidway, which will extend from Mulock to Davis Drive in Newmarket.[7] The projected completion date for this first segment is 2017.[8]
The projected completion date for the second segment, which will extend from Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie in Richmond Hill is 2015, while the third segment, from Major Mackenzie to 19th Avenue will be completed in 2020. Remaining segments will be completed beyond 2015, if additional funding is granted.
| Warden Vivastation |
|
|---|---|
| Station statistics | |
| Lines | |
| Connections | TTC 68B Warden |
| Other information | |
| Opened | 20 November 2005 |
| Rebuilt | 6 March 2011 |
Warden is a Vivastation located on the Enterprise Rapidway, east of Warden Avenue, in Markham. It is served by the Viva Purple, Viva Green, and Viva Pink lines. It is the only Vivastation to use Viva's new BRT stop design.[9]
The primary destination served by this stop is Downtown Markham
The original Warden Viva stop opened on November 20, 2005, and was located on Enterprise Drive just east of Warden Avenue.
On December 14 2009, construction began on the Enterprise Rapidway, a new bus-only road parallel to Enterprise Drive.[10] Because bus service would move onto this road, a new Vivastation was needed to replace the existing Warden Vivastation. On March 6 2011, the new Warden Vivastation opened, and the original stop on Enterprise Drive was decommissioned.[11]
As the first Vivastation of the new design, the Warden stop serves as a prototype for the remainder of Viva's rapidway stations. Consequently, some features have needed to be adjusted since operation began. To carry out changes while the warranty was still in effect, the Vivastation was closed on August 19, 2011 for an expected period of two weeks. During the closure, service was moved over to Enterprise Drive and transit signals for the Rapidway were turned off. The former Enterprise Drive Vivastation temporarily resumed operation, but PRESTO users had to use the terminals at the new Rapidway Vivastation to validate their fare. Work was completed ahead of schedule and the Rapidway Vivastation reopened on September 1, 2011.[12]
The 8.6 kilometre Spadina Subway extension will include six stations and run north from the Downsview Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station at Highway 7 in Vaughan.[13]
The Yonge Subway extension is planned to run 6.8 kilometres north from Finch Station in Toronto to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal at Highway 7 and include up to six stations.[14]