Tag: BRT

Categories
Awards Communications Design Innovation Uncategorized

More Awards, OH MY!

We recently shared the good news that YRRTC was recognized for multiple AVA Digital Awards, and we’re thrilled to share more exciting news…

The Yonge Street bus rapid transit project that opened for service last year in Richmond Hill and Newmarket was recently awarded first place in the Large Project category for the 2020 Engineering Project of the Year Award from the Professional Engineers Ontario [PEO] – York Chapter. 

  • This competition recognizes the contributions to the engineering profession and local community by an organization that has completed an outstanding project of a technical nature within the past year. It’s no secret that rapid transit projects bring better options for fast and convenient travel, but they also include major upgrades to roads above and below the ground. This includes updated utilities and infrastructure and beautiful streetscapes for pedestrians and cyclists – benefitting communities for generations to come.
  • EllisDon Capital Inc. and Coco Paving Inc. (EDCO), YRRTC’s constructor, also came in 2nd place for the Highway 7 West and Bathurst & Centre rapidway projects in Vaughan. 
  • Both rapid transit projects were recognized as the top winners in the Large Project category for the 2020 Engineering Project of the Year Award, highlighting the important investment made in rapid transit infrastructure. 

We’re also pleased to share that a number of communications pieces have received awards from the Hermes Creative Awards – an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals. Judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), YRRTC was awarded:

  • Platinum Award for YRRTC Incident Management Protocol – Public Relations/Communications | Strategic Programs | Crisis Communications Plan
  • Gold Award for Connections Through Rapid Transit video – Electronic Media/Social Media/Interactive Media | Video | Government
  • Gold Award for Support Local campaign – Public Relations/Communications | Strategic Programs | Pandemic Response

We’re thankful to have our commitment to excellence recognized by top industry professionals.  None of this would have been possible without the dedication of staff and partners alike to deliver on the transit vision that is transforming communities. For more info, visit our awards & recognition webpage.

Categories
Live-work-play suburban to urban transformation

explore and discover

blog photo, showing woman exploring and discovering York Region with a young boy from inside a bus

Sometimes we’re so locked into daily routines we stop noticing what’s new and changing around us. York Region is made up of fast-growing communities. As we go about living, working, and commuting we don’t always see the new park around the corner, the tulips blooming, new buildings under construction, or the blue glass on that new bus station.

Things change gradually. Bit by bit, our communities grow to meet our needs. New greenspace makes the neighbourhood a nice place to spend time. New buildings give us places to live and work, and new bus rapidways, terminals and subways bring new travel options and connection points. Choices and options are what make the places we choose to live that much better and here in York Region we’re seeing those changes continue to improve our way of life.

As our communities grow and people adopt new technology and travel patterns, we drive change together. Bus rapid transit and subway connections are a key part of planning for change and growth. We’ve been steadily building projects in York Region that not only provide rapid transit, but also put new infrastructure in place. These investments in new underground utilities, new bridges, tree-lined sidewalks and accessible traffic signals will prepare for current and future residents and businesses. Transit supports growth and development as communities continue to grow.

With all these changes come new possibilities. So be inspired, explore your community this spring and discover the wonderful places around you.

Categories
Funding Future Projects Innovation

with smart investment, there’s more to come

with smart investment, there’s more to come

This year has been all about what’s to come. Along with our bus rapid transit [BRT] and transit terminals projects we have on the go, there is more to be done to ensure York Region has a transportation network that is complete and sustainable:

  • Yonge Subway Extension [YSE] – Preliminary design and engineering is already underway for York Region’s top transit priority. Once full capital funding is committed for this 5-station, 7.4 km extension from Finch to Highway 7, it will be ready to proceed to procurement, full engineering and construction. For more info, visit our YSE project page
  • next phase of BRT – More than 75 km of new dedicated lanes for Viva, along Yonge Street, Highway 7 East and West, Jane Street, Major Mackenzie Drive and Leslie Street. These projects are vital to ensure that York Region has a completely connected system, making the most of the investment already made into BRT. Why Bus Rapid Transit? The capacity fits the projected ridership on most of our routes, it’s relatively economical to build and flexible to expand. For more information about these BRT projects, click here, or look at our interactive map of unfunded rapid transit projects in York Region.
  • building innovation – Helping York Region benefit from the changes to technology and mobility, by researching trends and building partnerships – find our 10-year business plan here.

York Region is a big municipality – with a growing number of residents and businesses. To ensure everyone can travel from A to B without overloading our roads with traffic congestion, we’re putting a fast, reliable transit system in place, on some of our busiest roads. We’re also looking at new ideas in travel and mobility. We’re researching new types of transit vehicles, sustainable solutions and innovative funding partnerships.

Growth can be great when it’s managed well, and for this we need smart investments that bring York Region’s bright future to life!

Categories
Future Projects

building to be our best

building to be our best

When we grocery shop for family, we include healthy food choices because we know that having them easily accessible helps us make the better choice.

Why do we try that new yoga move, join a softball league, take a class, learn an instrument or change to a new career? We want try new things and make healthy choices because it makes our lives better. And we’re most likely to make those choices when they’re right in front of us, and they seem easy.

Transit is another choice that people make when it’s right in front of them, and seems easy. If there were transit stations right near your home and work, where you knew you could always catch a ride in 15 minutes or less, where you could pay in advance so you didn’t have to fumble with coins, would you be more likely to choose transit? How about if you knew it would zip you past traffic, and you could do something else with your time instead of drive? You could text a friend, get started on work emails, or just look at pretty pictures on Instagram.

We plan for what we want our lives to be and we invest in change. This is why, when we plan communities, we plan them for all types of mobility. Viva provides fast, convenient transit that bypasses traffic in a dedicated rapidway. Also communities are getting larger sidewalks and bike lanes along the new rapidways, so people can move around quickly and safely.

When we build rapidways, there’s usually a jump in the number of customers when a segment first opens, but we know it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of people watching the transit run like clockwork, years of new development in the area, before real changes happen. Markham is a good example, where rapidways opened in 2013/2014 and since then development has grown steadily along Highway 7 East and in Markham Centre. Soon, York University will have a campus there to add to the vibrant community where people come to learn and play.

York Region is growing in many areas, and this has created a need for more rapid transit segments – especially on Yonge Street from 19th/Gamble to Mulock Drive, and on Highway 7 in western Vaughan and in eastern Markham. We’re planning for the future. To see a map of how [and where] we’re building to be our best, click here.

Categories
Innovation Technical Urban Planning

your journey, your way

Blogpost by: Sara Grilli

Work, shopping, school, lunch with friends – you have places to be, things to do, and you need a way to get there.  Your journey has to be tailored to you, and with the drastic makeover transportation has received in recent years; it’s now easier than ever.

Whether you need to rush to get somewhere on time, or you want to chat with your friends while someone else drives, there are a multitude of options available to craft the perfect journey:

  • Transit: Taking transit from one region to another is made simple with the trip planning and payment apps that have become available. Triplinx is one example of a tool for finding the fastest route with real-time arrival updates.
  • Cars: With ridesharing, there’s more than one way to get from A to B. Services like Uber and Lyft operate 24/7 using phone apps. Car sharing services are a popular choice for those who occasionally need a short-term rental – choices vary from ZipCar to the peer-to-peer Turo. And, there’s always carpooling with a friend.
  • Active transportation: With the beautiful weather this summer is giving us, active transportation is a great choice. Companies such as BikeShare and Lime take the hassle out of renting with multiple options such as bikes, scooters etc. With docking stations all over the city, you won’t have to worry about parking in specific spots.

Car sharing and bike sharing services are relatively new to the GTA and haven’t crossed municipal boundaries to York Region yet, but York Region is growing, so there will be more to come. After all, just five years ago there was no such thing as bus rapid transit, or subway, in York Region. Now we have more than 12 km of rapidways and 18 vivastations, and a subway extension that reaches Highway 7 in Vaughan. Your life and daily activities are unique to you, and your transportation choices should reflect that.  Finding new ways to get places is easier than ever with new technologies evolving every day.

Categories
Rapidways Subways

more to come

#MoreToCome

The warmer weather is bringing thoughts of new growth, and change. York Region has seen a lot of change in recent years. Along with our growing population, and increasing number of businesses and jobs, changes to our streets and infrastructure have brought about new choices.

Some of our funded rapidway projects are already constructed and open for service, bringing new options in how to travel, to Highway 7 East in Markham and Richmond Hill, Davis Drive in Newmarket, and Highway 7 West in Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. In Vaughan, connections to subway make transit even more of an option to travel across the GTA.

Transit is transforming our city centres, and there are even more projects on the horizon:

  • The Yonge Subway Extension – York Region’s number one transit priority – has preliminary design and engineering underway and is ready to move to full engineering and construction once full capital funding is committed. For more information about this 5-station, 7.4 km extension from Finch to Highway 7, visit vivanext.com/project_YongeSubway
  • The next phase of bus rapid transit includes over 75 km of new dedicated lanes for Viva, along Yonge Street, Highway 7 East and West, Jane Street, Major Mackenzie Drive and Leslie Street. Most of the Environmental Assessments are complete for these projects, and we’re ready to move to preliminary engineering, design and construction once they receive capital funding. For a map of the unfunded rapid transit projects in York Region, click here.

With investments in transit and infrastructure, York Region’s continued growth will be “smart growth.” The new options this brings will paint a bright future, of new opportunities, experiences and destinations for residents and visitors alike!

 

Categories
Commissioning Community Events Facilities and terminals General Innovation Rapidways Stations Subways

amazing team, extraordinary results

What a week it has been! The launch of the TTC Line 1 subway extension with the Highway 7 West rapidway and vivastation on Sunday in Vaughan is one of those lifetime moments. We’re going to remember this day for the rest of our lives. This is the day everything became a little closer, and a lot faster for York Region and the City of Vaughan.

unwavering dedication

For everyone involved, including us at York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, it was an exhilarating and emotional weekend, the culmination of years of incredible challenges and unwavering dedication, everything we’ve been working toward for a very long time! Many of us shouted and cheered as the first train pulled into the new subway station.

Then, seeing that Viva bus roll down the red asphalt rapidway into the open, airy Vaughan Metropolitan Centre vivastation and pick up actual passengers who came up the stairs from the subway – well, it’s hard to describe the feeling, except to say that more than a few grew a little misty-eyed! So many people came out to mark this milestone day for transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, we know how much these new transit connections matter and we thank you for your patience during the long construction period.

#AnEngineerWasHere

Kudos goes out to the engineers, planners and project team, whose tireless drive moved the VMC station and rapidway project forward every step of the way: from the environmental assessments to the design to breaking ground, from utility relocations to storm sewer work and road widening. Along with the many contractors, they pushed though good and bad weather, scalding heat, freezing cold and everything in between. They worked through paving and bridge reconstructions, to timelines off schedule and on again, to the construction of our vivastations and our landmark Vaughan Metropolitan Centre vivastation. Experts from many agencies, cities and private companies all came together to make this day happen.

Now we have incredible, tangible results with the first subway-BRT connection, a legacy that will keep our Region moving for years to come. Just goes to prove anything is possible with extraordinary teamwork, unwavering dedication and an eye to the future. Again, thank you for supporting this project and we hope you get out and try the new system!

Categories
Announcements Commissioning economic & financial Facilities and terminals Innovation Rapidways Stations Subways

The ribbon is cut! Trudeau and Wynne came! Now only two days until subway meets BRT!

This historic weekend of transit firsts in Vaughan kicked off in style.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Premier Kathleen Wynne, Toronto Mayor John Tory and many other dignitaries to officially cut the ribbon on the Line 1 subway extension, at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre [VMC]. Then, they rode the subway from the VMC station to the new York University subway station for a press conference.

“The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension will mean a faster commute, less time in traffic and more money in people’s pockets as they trade their cars for a subway ticket,” Prime Minister Trudeau told the crowd at York University station.

That’s music to our ears!

The crowd included partners from all three levels of government, who worked together to make this project a reality. Also on hand were many members of our vivaNext team, who played a key role in this project, working with the TTC on the York Region stations. Joining the crowd were the many partners who helped make this happen.

three subway stations in York Region!

In just two days, York Region will have three shiny, new subway stations open for service: Pioneer Village, Highway 407 and the end of the line, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. On opening day and Monday, members of our team will be on hand to answer your questions and help you find your way.

Our brand new, flagship bus rapid transit station will greet riders at the VMC, forging the connection between our rapid transit network in York Region and the new subway.

Also coming later this month is the GO train connection at the new Downsview Park station, where commuters on the Barrie GO train can connect to the Line 1 subway extension.

“If we build it, they will come”

Now, with the 8.6-kilometre subway extension, downtown is a mere 42 minutes away, but we expect subway traffic to flow both ways. Wayne Emmerson, York Region Chairman and CEO, said, “If we build it, they will come.” He called the subway a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” saying it “will help further develop an urban community that is transit-oriented, forward-thinking and has economic development opportunities to benefit current and future generations.”

“Big transit takes time”

Premier Wynne acknowledged the time and effort of all levels of government that came together to connect the heart of York Region to downtown. She also gave a nod to our new Highway 7 West rapidway, saying that downtown foodies can hop the vivaNext rapid transit system to restaurants in Richmond Hill.

But she summed it up best with: “What an amazing day this is!”

We agree, Premier Wynne! And this Sunday will be even better, when the subway and our rapidway open for service, and you can experience the ride firsthand. It’s going to be a rush! We hope to see you there.

Categories
Announcements Commissioning Community Events Construction Facilities and terminals General Rapidways Stations Subways Urban Planning

Transit gets epic in Vaughan this Sunday

Get ready for the game-changer. Transit is about to get epic at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre [VMC], and you’re invited. On Sunday, December 17, this public launch event is set to change the face of transit forever in York Region.

The public opening of the TTC Line 1 Subway Extension will make history, as the first subway ever in York Region brings transit customers up to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

Today was another great day for integrated transit connections in the York Region and the GTHA – as we celebrated the official opening of the newest bus rapid transit [BRT] rapidway segment and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre [VMC] Station on Highway 7 West. This new vivastation will be fully connected to the new VMC subway station.

Bus rapid transit meets subway for the first time!

you’ll be moved!

The new rapidway section runs west of Jane Street to Edgeley Boulevard, with dedicated centre lanes that will whisk riders to the VMC with faster and more consistent travel times. Including the previously completed section, the rapidway will run the full 3.6 kilometres from Bowes Road to Edgeley, the bus-only lanes clearly marked for drivers with red asphalt.

Coming in 2018, SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal will complete the transit powerhouse at VMC, as YRT buses begin providing services from this stunning new bus terminal.

an extraordinary station

Along with the rapidway comes an extraordinary vivastation for a new downtown destination – the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre rapidway station. The design supersized our traditional vivastation arched glass canopies, inspired by historic and modern European transportation architecture. The open, airy, domed glass canopy shelters the road and station.

the future is now

It’s only 43 minutes via subway to downtown from the VMC, but there’s no need to go anywhere. If you’re at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, you’ve already arrived!

Welcome to the brilliant future of transit-oriented development, right here, right now in York Region. The VMC shows what it’s all been about: rapid transit connections that fuel livable, walkable, desirable communities, spur jobs and economic growth, creating places where we all want to live, work and play.

 

Categories
Commissioning Construction Facilities and terminals Rapidways Stations Subways Technical

collaboration now and for the future

Building our Vaughan Metropolitan Centre rapidway station required close collaboration with the TTC, since it’s so near to their new subway station – literally on top of it, in fact! The collaboration began at the design stage, and continued between our two construction teams as we brought the plans to life.

staging for success

With the new rapidway station being built in layers, and in the middle of the road, staging was crucial for both the vivaNext team and TTC. Staging means carrying out work in phases, such as shifting traffic lanes from side to side to give crews room to work safely. Another example was how we stayed clear of the TTC work crews while they finished the subway box, before we started on the concrete and rebar that went on top.

teamwork

Coordinating with the TTC, vivaNext crews shifted the traffic to one side while we built the road on the other side, and they worked on that side of the underground subway structure. Then, when we flipped the traffic back to widen the other side, the TTC also switched sides. A detailed planning process ensured we both did what we needed to do, in the right order and the shortest possible time, without tripping over each other.

Building the escalators and elevators from the TTC station to the BRT station also took detailed planning and coordination. Rules and specifications determine how closely crews can work to adjoining crews. The subway and rapidway stations share a very small area. If you’ve ever done a renovation, this was like having one group building the stairs, and another building the walls and hanging the wallpaper.

the collaboration continues

Most of that coordination is done now, with the vivastation area fully under our contractor’s control. We’ll continue to work closely with the TTC as we get to the final stages of signoff for the station equipment. On opening day, December 17, there may be some finishing touches still required, but we will open for service!

The collaboration continues even after the work is done, since the goal of the new station is to create seamless connections between Viva rapid transit and the TTC. We’re looking forward to a long, happy future of working together to get you where you want to be.