Recently, we received $1.4 billion in funding to build rapidways. But what are rapidways? It is the term for centre of the road, rapid transit-only lanes that we will build for Viva vehicles to travel in.
It’s rapid because, without being stuck in traffic, Viva will be able to zip through congested areas making it the better way to get around York Region.
Rapidways will put the rapid into rapid transit. Right now, our vehicles compete with all the other cars and trucks on the road. During times of high volume, the rapid transit vehicles will be able to glide past gridlock and actually make for a faster commute than in a car. It’ll be like driving in the carpool lane, but without even other drivers. Similar to how the carpool lane will save you time, we project that the rapidways will make Viva trips 40% faster.
The system is designed to allow for higher capacity light rail trains to replace buses on the rapidways when ridership warrants it. I will follow-up with a more extensive post about this soon.
4 replies on “What’s a rapidway and how will it help?”
when will this construction start in Newmarket, say, davis dr. i am aware it will be in the fall of “09” but a more exact time would be nice. And also, i have seen a video of the transformation of what will happen in the next few years. The video is based on davis dr.’s transformation, and it shows that the save it gas station will be gone and the flea market will be gone to make room for couple storie high building’s. Is it true? and will the old davis tannery still be there? you cant tell in the video
DaleA: Over the summer and fall, vivaNext will be holding a series of public meetings that focus on the transformation and vision for Davis Drive. Hopefully you’ll be able to join us as we discuss topics such as what the rapidways will look like, preliminary phasing of construction, and timelines for construction. In fact, there is a meeting this evening at the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting place. Please see here for the meeting details. More detail regarding the construction timeline will be available in the fall, as we continue to develop the works schedule.
As for the video, it is only intended to show the general process of rapidway construction and the type of urban transformation that could occur along Davis Drive over many years. It was created from artist renderings and is not intended to be taken literally. Amazing to see great urban planning in the works, eh.
Once the Rapidways introduced, will VIVA vehicles have traffic signal priority like the TTC Streetcars on Spadina or will the current VIVA signal priority system be left in place?
DaleA: Hi Michael,
Please see my comment under your previous question about traffic signal priority.
As per luke’s question above, and the response, the current VIVA vehicles sometimes use the GPS technology if they are late more than 3 minutes (according to several VIVA drivers I talk to). However, from my experience this technology either doesn’t work (i.e. Atkinson & Bathurst light on the VIVA Purple and Golf Links & Yonge on the VIVA Blue always seems to be Red or changing as the busses approach) or works sometimes. What is the Region doing to correct this issue with the current system in mixed traffic?
Second question, once the Rapidways are completed (i.e. the VIVA busses are removed from mixed traffic and the VIVA stations are on the far side (i.e. the VIVA vehicle services the stop AFTER going through the intersection) will the VIVA vehicles be given signal priority once they approach the intersection like the TTC streetcars on Spadina? Currently in Toronto, once a streetcar, on a Rapidway like route, approaches the intersection, the intersection light changes so the seperate transit signal turns green allowing the TTC Street cars advance. BONUS: this set up would also allow the Emergency vehicles who use the Rapidways to have better signal priority as well at busy intersections.
DaleA: Hi Michael,
Thank you for your comment and question. Yes, viva rapid transit vehicles already have and will continue to have the capability to request traffic signal priority. Viva rapid transit vehicles currently use GPS technology and onboard equipment that allows a request for traffic signal priority if they are running behind schedule. The TSP parameters may be set-up on an intersection basis. However, it is too early to say exactly how it will be deployed on the new rapidways, but it will be the objective to minimise travel times and thus maximise passenger benefits.
Can we expect traffic lights that see the bus coming from a kilometre away, and ready to be green at the right time?
DaleA: Hi Luke,
Currently, viva rapid transit vehicles have GPS technology that keeps rtvs on time by requesting traffic signal priority if they’re running behind schedule.