Category: General

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Announcements General

The best travel routes at your fingertips

 

Driving can be unpredictable, no matter where or when you’re going. You never know what you might run into – from construction to volume. Taking viva is a great way around that problem but if you have to take the car then York Region has developed an app for you.

York Region Travel Alert is a real-time, personalized traffic reporting system with street coverage better than any other currently available traffic system for the Regional Municipality of York. With hands-free visual and audio feedback available on your smartphone, advising you of traffic conditions on your route so you’ll always be aware of traffic congestion well in advance.

This unique app guides you to your destination with informative, immediate audio alerts on traffic conditions with affected street segments and speed. It’s like having a personal traffic helicopter watching your route every time you get into your car, monitoring traffic conditions along your saved routes, as well as 5 to 20 kilometres ahead of your current street location.

York Region Travel Alert displays your route on a map in coloured segments, right on your smartphone, representing existing traffic conditions. With this peace of mind you can sit back, relax and enjoy your trip, knowing that the York Region Travel Alert’s hands-free operation will alert you to any unexpected traffic delays, with ample time to detour to an alternate route.

To save you even more time, the York Region Travel Alert also comes with a list of pre-loaded community favourites for popular destinations including Richmond Hill to the Hollidge Tract in the York Regional Forest, Toronto to Canada’s Wonderland, Stouffville to the 404 and Highway 7 Business Area.

The York Region Travel Alert will also remind you to drive safely as you approach community safety zones and school zones.

You can also participate actively in alerting other drivers of traffic problems by pressing a button on your phone which will connect you to our traffic centre where you can provide us with real-time updates on the road conditions. This way, all of our users will not only know the road may be slow ahead, but will also know why.

It’s here! It’s free! Download The York Region Travel Alert app today from www.york.ca or from the iPhone App Store, Blackberry App World or Google Play.

Visit www.york.ca/travelalert for more information.

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General

Learning from the best around the world

Learning from the best around the world

One of the things we’re most proud of here is that our vivaNext rapid transit plan reflects the most current and leading edge design and technology there is. And I say that not just from pride, but because our project has always taken a knowledge-based approach to everything we do – from how we developed our rapidway overall, to the design of our curved glass shelters, to our construction methods. Before we make a decision, we always ask our experts, whether they’re engineers, architects or planners: what’s the best way to do this based on experiences in other cities and countries, where has it been done elsewhere, and what have others learned so we can make it even better?

Fortunately, we have access to opportunities to share information and lessons learned, including conferences which attract transit professionals from around the world. Although the sessions may sound pretty dry – conference workshops our experts have attended include “Light Railways and Busways as Key Driver to Sustainable Urban Development – the Swedish Experiences with Transit Oriented Development”, “Off-Board Fare Payment Using Proof-of-Payment Verification” and “Enhancing Neighbourhoods Through Streetcar Development in Paris, France” – this is how important ideas get debated and improved.

We have searched for best practices on what’s worked well elsewhere, including how to shape development through transit, how to move people quickly and inexpensively, what technology works best and so on. We look for practices that have been successful in circumstances similar to those here in York Region, including the existing built form of our communities, population densities, and traffic patterns. Obviously not all experiences are applicable here. But by sifting through the experiences of countries literally around the world, we have been able to design a program that we believe will meet our objectives of increasing transit ridership, shaping development through future growth, and benefiting everyone in York Region.

And the fact that vivaNext experts are now being asked to speak at conferences about what we’re doing here, means others around the world are looking at our project too. So we’ll keep learning, and fine-tuning, and bringing the best the world can offer in rapid transit to York Region

 

Categories
Construction General

Snow day at vivaNext

Snow day at vivaNext

A glance outside our windows tells us it’s a snow day in York Region. Our construction sites are blanketed in snow, but even though we’re inside, we have plenty to do.

Our contractors are hard at work rescheduling construction that was planned for today. Like a game of dominoes, each change affects another. If the work planned for today needs to be completed before we start the next task, then we’ll be busy reassigning crews and making sure that the upcoming construction falls back in line with the overall project schedule.

VivaNext staff who aren’t outside on construction sites support the construction behind the scenes with planning, design and communications. Before construction begins on a project, we plan how the project will look and function, and we also refine the design of everything from the location of each vivastation to the types of trees we’ll plant. Sometimes there’s coordination to be done with local municipalities or private companies, so we work with everyone to ensure the project goes smoothly once construction gets started.

All of our projects are at different stages of development, and so we have staff working on different parts of each project. The Highway 7 East rapidway is in its final year of construction, whereas Davis Drive in Newmarket is about to start road widening this summer. Highway 7 West is just getting started with construction in Vaughan, and the Yonge Street rapidway is beginning with surveys and utility work. The Spadina Subway Extension from Downsview Station to Highway 7 in Vaughan continues, with tunneling beginning soon in Vaughan.

We’re also busy planning open houses for a few of our projects this spring and once dates are confirmed, we’ll be letting everyone know. If you have time on this snowy weekend, take a moment to sign up for email updates to find out about open houses, and construction underway in your area.

 

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General

Highway 7 is open for business

As rapidway construction makes great progress along Highway 7, the areas that are under active construction will continue to change.  That means drivers really need to pay attention to temporary lane markings, traffic signals and diversions, especially on a busy thoroughfare like Highway 7.

But one thing that’s remained unchanged is that you can still access all your favourite Highway 7 businesses throughout the construction period.  Whether you’re shopping for holiday entertaining, meeting with friends for a meal, or finding special things to put under the tree, Highway 7 retailers and restaurants are open for regular business throughout vivaNext construction.

From time to time, construction activities will take place in front of business and plaza driveways.  This may mean that access is slightly diverted for limited periods. But at those times our crews ensure that access to each business is kept open, and signs will be posted clearly showing drivers where to go.

As always, the best way to keep informed about where activities are going to be taking place and any temporary lane changes or diversions, is by signing up for our email updates at vivanext.com.

So this festive season, here’s one less thing to worry about: you have our commitment that Highway 7 businesses are open for business as usual, and are looking forward to helping make your holidays bright.

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General

vivaNext puts safety first

vivaNext puts safety first

When there’s something on the other side of the street you need to get to, the nearest intersection just might not seem close enough. It can be tempting to cross (or jaywalk) in the middle of the road. The problem with jaywalking is that it poses a huge risk to you as a pedestrian. Drivers aren’t expecting pedestrians in non-pedestrian areas like a travel lane and may do something unexpected or not brake in time for you to make your trek safely across the road.

During construction, crossing at designated crosswalks is even more important than ever. Lane closures can change frequently and when areas are blocked off, drivers must pay close attention to signs and road markings so they know where to drive and stop. Drivers might easily miss a pedestrian who is crossing or running into a non-pedestrian safe zone.

Even when crossing at a designated crosswalk, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Be sure to look both ways and stay aware. Put away your phone, MP3 player, or tablet, and focus on the road. You should be constantly alert, just like the drivers.

Other safety concerns as a pedestrian are the construction zones themselves. There are a lot of hazards around a construction site that you wouldn’t necessarily know about. We block off work areas and create detours to protect drivers and pedestrians, so it’s important that you respect those boundaries for your own safety.

You’ll be able to enjoy all that the vivaNext transformation has to offer once it’s complete.[poll id=”34″]

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General

Growing up: students and rapid transit

growing up: students and rapid transit

It’s that time of year again – students are back to school next week and parents can’t believe how much their kids have grown. It probably seems like just yesterday that they were taking their first steps. If you’re an older student, maybe you’re taking a big step yourself – starting high school or college.

We understand the feeling, because it wasn’t long ago that we were planning the vivaNext rapidways, and now they’re starting to take shape. Highway 7, between Bayview and Warden, is the ‘eager beaver’ of the class. Since 2010 on Highway 7, construction crews have removed medians, relocated utilities and widened the road to allow for dedicated transit lanes. New vivastations are well underway, with nine in various stages of completion and 13 more to come in the next 18 months. Once construction is complete, the rapidway lanes and stations will be tested, drivers will be trained, and the centre lanes of Highway 7 will become a full-fledged segment of rapidway.

This September, students will get to school by bus, car, bike and on foot. Many students ride transit to and from school, and soon, Unionville High School and Seneca’s Markham Campus will have a Highway 7 rapidway outside their doors. In Newmarket, the Davis Drive rapidway will bring rapid transit to the students of Huron Heights Secondary School, and future rapidways along Yonge Street will pass near Sir William Mulock, Richmond Hill, and Langstaff secondary schools. Langstaff and Thornhill secondary schools will each be within walking distance of the planned extension to Yonge Subway, and thanks to the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, students of Seneca, York and Schulich will be able to take the subway to York University’s Keele Campus in 2016.

York Region’s transit network is designed to help shape how and where our population grows, helping to transform our towns and cities into attractive, accessible urban areas. This includes new residents to our region, and also long-time residents like students, moving from one stage of life to another. This year’s batch of college freshmen will have rapid transit waiting to take them to their first jobs when they graduate. Grade 9 students will be able to head to college via subway, and kindergarten students will have a world of choices. It’ll all happen before we know it…[poll id=”33″]

Categories
Fun & Games General Live-work-play Rapidways Uncategorized Urban Planning

VivaNext has Olympic spirit!

vivaNext Olympics

The summer Olympics bring together the best and brightest of athletes around the world in a variety of summer sports, ready to compete. As we cheer on Team Canada in the vivaNext office, we notice some similarities between the dedication that each athlete has to his/her sport and the dedication that we have to our new vivaNext rapid transit system.

Athletes, whether participating in summer or winter Olympics, are forced to endure the elements when it comes to practice. Whether braving through cold to ski or melting in the heat practicing beach volleyball, these athletes continue to give it their all. Likewise, vivaNext has to work with the elements as we go through construction. In the summer months, it’s important that our construction workers stay cool under the hot sun. On days when it rains, construction can be at a stand-still, forcing us to work even harder the next day.

Just like any athlete, we have a team of coaches and supporting staff that are making the vivaNext vision a reality. From the engineering to communications teams to onsite supervisors, our success is a group effort. Although only the athlete may receive a medal, it is often a team effort, with coaches included, to help them reach the podium. Similarly, it is a team effort to ensure that the vivaNext transformation is a success.

And of course, there is something to be said for the speed at which athletes that cycle, row, or run track travel. They are constantly looking to move faster and improve their travel times. Our rapidways will help reduce congestion and provide a reliable rapid transit network along our corridors as well. We’ll reduce travel time by up to 40%, and make reaching your destination easier and more efficient.

At the vivaNext office, we are supporting Canadian athletes through our own office Olympics. Departments are virtually going head-to-head to earn medals for different sports. How are you supporting Team Canada? Is there an athlete that you’re rooting for? Let us know by commenting below!

If you’re interested in learning more about the vivaNext projects, visit us at www.vivanext.com. You can also sign up to receive e-mail construction updates here.

Categories
General Studies

Having the right team for the job

viva influences come from around the world

As you follow our progress in building the vivaNext rapidways across the Region, a lot of our work will appear to be straightforward construction. But what you likely won’t know is how many other areas of expertise are needed to inform a project like vivaNext – and how many experts with specialized knowledge play key roles on our project team. As you might expect, our preliminary design and design-build teams include specialists in traffic, structural and electrical engineering, landscape architects and urban designers. But our team also includes a range of other experts – many of whom have worked on major projects around the world – in many more specialized fields.

Our vivaNext vision includes a complex systems undertaking, including both new hardware and software. So our team includes systems engineers to design the multiple information systems and other communications components involved in traffic signals, bus detection equipment, ticketing and many other IT elements of our system. To ensure our curved vivastation canopies provide a comfortable shelter from the elements, micro-climate specialists studied how the stations will be affected by wind, rain and snow. And the surprisingly complex questions related to “wayfinding” – the science of helping people find their way and get from A to B easily – have been assigned to wayfinding experts, who advise on all the elements that passengers will touch, see, read, feel or use. Look for more information about these specialties in future blogs.

One area where we’re drawing on very specialized knowledge is in our planning for construction in the vicinity of the Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket. In this area, as is the case across our entire project, our highest priorities are the quality of our work, as well as safety for the public and our workers during construction. Near the hospital, we add in the need to ensure there is as little disruption as possible to patients and medical staff due to our construction activities. Fortunately, our design-build partner has a wealth of experience in actually designing and constructing additions to hospitals, as well as carrying out construction projects near other sensitive locations.

We know that from time to time, construction can be noisy, and wherever we’re working we try to keep the amount of noise, vibration and dust to a minimum. In the hospital zone, our expert advisors are working closely with the hospital’s administration to plan what we’ll be working on, how we’re going to work, and when it will happen. We will also make sure the public is kept well-informed as our work near the hospital progresses, with regular updates and communication.

As we move forward with our work, our team of experts are drawing on their years of experience – literally from around the globe. We’re fortunate to have their knowledge to help anticipate the issues that might arise, to minimize problems, and ultimately get the long-term results we’re committed to achieving for vivaNext.

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General Live-work-play

The vivaNext generation

Construction on vivaNext projects is moving full speed ahead. As structures are built and roads are widened, visions of the future are becoming a reality. The promise of the next generation of York Region’s rapid transit is coming to life.

Here at the vivaNext office, we have also welcomed a next generation, with two new summer students joining our communications team. They both have grown up in York Region, one hailing from Newmarket while the other is from Vaughan. Each of them has lived in the Region for over twenty years, so they know how it has changed over time. Both are looking forward to being a part of the team that brings York Region into its next era.

I hope that excitement like this spreads to all generations. I see the vivaNext generation as people of all ages, who use the vivaNext transit system as a way to travel to modern, urban destinations inside and outside of York Region.

For people in Vaughan, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (or VMC) will be a new downtown. As a hub for transit, business, shopping, and recreation, the VMC will offer a site for all ages to come together and experience York Region. Our summer student, Alanna, mentioned that she is thrilled about the opportunity to have a “downtown experience” closer to home.

John, our summer student from Newmarket, is looking forward to a highly improved Davis Drive for York Region residents. With pedestrian-friendly boulevards and easy access to places to shop, work, and relax, Davis Drive will become a new destination for the next generation of vivaNext travellers.  

Taken together, these individual projects connect into the vivaNext plan for a seamless rapid transit network, making it easy to travel to work, shopping destinations, and recreation.  

Our projects will benefit everyone who lives or works in York Region, and we want to keep in touch with all of you as these projects are underway. We’re making sure residents are in-the-know with our constant social media updates Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our e-mail updates.

The future is bright, and the vivaNext generation of travellers has a lot to be excited about.

[poll id=”31″]

Categories
Construction General

Davis Drive – noticeable change in 2011

Davis Drive in 2011

Davis Drive was a busy place in 2011, with lots of noticeable work done to prepare for rapidway construction. Rapidways will be built from Yonge Street to just past the hospital, and most of our work has been along this section.

Davis Drive will be widened starting in 2012, and we needed to do a few big things first: build retaining walls, widen the Keith Bridge, and relocate utilities.

Widening Davis Drive will mean moving sidewalks and boulevards farther apart. In locations along the south side of Davis Drive where the ground slopes toward the road, retaining walls were needed so that we can move utilities. Five retaining walls are now built using stone blocks or textured concrete, with railings to be added to walls over two feet in height.

A new section of the Keith Bridge was built in 2011, including 106 tonnes of rebar steel reinforcements, and 110 truckloads of poured cement. Even though the final touches are still to come, the historical architectural features are noticeable in the new bridge construction. The Keith Bridge will be fenced this winter, and traffic will move to this bridge section at a later date.

Utilities, such as hydro, gas, sewage, and telecommunication lines, need to be moved to prepare for road widening, and in some cases they needed to be relocated as part of the Keith Bridge or retaining wall construction. Geotechnical testing – examining the condition and consistency of road and boulevard surfaces – has also been underway along Davis Drive so that our engineers know what to plan for when they widen the road.

This winter our contractors are working on 2012 construction schedules and continuing with utility relocation and geotechnical testing. When warmer weather arrives we’ll be ready to begin widening Davis Drive, and you’ll begin to see the overall transformation of Davis Drive into a welcoming urban place.

Happy Holidays everyone – we’ll see you in 2012!