Category: Stations

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Commissioning Construction Design Rapidways Safety Signs and barrels Stations Technical Traffic signals Transit Uncategorized Utilities

why vivaNext staff do ‘walk-downs’ of our construction sites

constructions workers reviewing a roadway construction site for a transit project

Blog post by: Elizabeth Kim

Have you ever seen a group of people with white hard-hats walking along a rapidway construction site, although it seems like there isn’t much construction happening? Have you ever wondered, “How many people does it take to look in a hole?” or, “Why is everyone just standing around and talking?”

Well, we hope to help answer those questions.

getting a closer look

The constructor schedules regular walk-downs of each of our rapidway construction projects – from one end to another – in order to closely review completed, ongoing and upcoming work. Different walks have different purposes, including safety monitoring, the quality of work in progress and the quality of completed elements to ensure everything works as intended once the rapidway opens for service.

That’s not all. As we get closer to a project’s completion and opening for service, the number of walk-downs goes way up to ensure that everything has been built according to plan in order to ensure that projects can be opened for service to the public. Here are some answers to the two biggest questions about walk-downs:

why so many people?

Each team member on a walk-down has a specific job. And depending on the purpose of the walk-down, a variety of people with different expertise may participate.

To review an area before a major work operation, for example, the walk-down team may include a vivaNext Project Engineer, who would ensure that the work plan is accurate to engineering drawings; and the Community Liaison, who communicates the impacts to businesses, residents and other stakeholders.

It may also include an Engineer from York Region’s Transportation Services, who inspects the roadway elements – such as street lighting, sidewalks, boulevards, traffic signals, pavement markings, and signs – and ensures compliance with lane closure permits;

Safety Managers ensure that the work plan is safe. And Supervisors from the Constructor and sub-contractor companies take everyone through the work plan and operation.

In some cases, municipal and regional staff will join us on inspections– for example, with water main connections, vivastation construction, paving, and red asphalt in the rapidways; and for works near Highway 400, provincial Ministry staff may join the walk-down.

what are they looking for during a walk-down?

Participants are looking at a variety of factors based on their role within the project team, and depending on the particular purpose of the walk-down.

Some participants are specifically looking for possible errors in construction – in new pavement, installed signs, storm sewers, and other quality concerns to be addressed.

All items are documented and while some items may need to be fixed immediately, others will be addressed during the contractor’s warranty period. Other participants look for how the operation will unfold and the impact to the community, such as accessibility for pedestrians. Follow-up walk-downs are then scheduled to review progress on documented items.

Each participant on a walk-down plays an important role in order to deliver high-quality rapidway projects throughout York Region.   

STAYING INFORMED

Make sure to connect with us on social media to receive regular construction updates and stay in touch! The best way to stay informed about our construction projects is to sign-up for email notifications at vivanext.com/subscribe, and to follow us on our social media platforms.

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Community Construction Design Going Green Rapidways Safety Stations Transit

behind the scenes >> building a vivastation

Blog post by: Elizabeth Kim

Despite wavering weather from Mother Nature, crews have been busy with a number of work activities across each of our construction projects in Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Vaughan.

If you’ve been out driving or walking along these projects, you may feel that construction can sometimes be messy, chaotic, and never-ending. Although all this work may appear identical, there are actually a number of construction activities underway, many of which require specialized crews. But, before work starts on each of rapid transit projects, there’s careful planning that goes on behind the scenes.

vivastations

There are many steps in building each of the iconic vivastations across our projects, all which are carefully planned to ensure work can get completed efficiently, while ensuring everyone – pedestrians, motorists and construction workers – remain safe. When complete, transit users will be able to enjoy new technology and innovative features that each vivastation offers.

Building a vivastation is sort of like putting together the pieces to a puzzle. Each step carefully lays the foundation for the vivastation, prioritizing consistency, quality, and safety.

As the year progresses and work on our vivastations begins to unfold, keep your eyes out for each of the following steps that go into building a vivastation!

1. Excavation, caisson drilling, and finishing

After the existing asphalt and road base is removed in preparation for construction, circular caissons are drilled 8 to 10 meters (26 to 32 feet) into the ground. Caissons are reinforced concrete columns placed below ground that act as the foundation for platforms. First, a large drill is used to create a deep hole for the column. Next, a steel rebar cage is placed in the drilled hole. Finally the hole is filled in with concrete.

2. Platforms, barrier walls are formed, poured, and cured

Once the caissons are installed, the concrete station platform and barrier walls will start to take shape. A concrete slab reinforced with steel is built on top of caissons to serve as the platform for vivastations. Concrete for the barrier walls are then formed, which provide delineation between the vivastation and live traffic, making them a key safety feature of every vivastation.

Prior to the installation of the barrier walls, electrical conduits are placed within the steel rebar cage.  Plywood forms are used as a mold for the walls and are placed around the rebar. Concrete is poured into the forms to create the barrier walls. Once the concrete is hardened, the forms are removed and the barrier walls are smoothed out to remove any surface imperfections.

3. Steel erection

A steel skeleton – prefabricated offsite and transported by trucks – is then erected on the concrete barrier walls. Prior to delivery to the site, the steel canopy is painted with a resin coating, in a champagne bronze colour.

These structures are raised into place by a large crane with careful maneuvering and precision. Lanes are often reduced around the vivastation during this procedure to ensure pedestrians, motorists and crews remain safe.

4. Glass installation

Each of our vivastations use tempered glass, which contains properties that strengthen the glass, ultimately creating a safe and durable structure that covers the exterior of the vivastation.

The glass is pre-cut and tinted prior to delivery to the site. Construction crews then carefully place the glass onto the canopy, creating our beautiful, signature blue vivastations.

5. Tile work on platform

Tile work is then done on the platforms, including tactile tile work at every vivastation. These tactile tiles are either cast iron or porcelain plates – depending on the construction project – that act as a textured ground surface indicator. These tiles are able to assist pedestrians and passengers who are visually impaired effectively navigate the surrounding environment.

Similar to our bus stops, we install directional tiles at every vivastation platform. Directional tiles are brown, textured tiles that help to assist visually impaired pedestrians and passengers in determining accurate direction of travel.

6. Electrical and IT systems

The installation of electrical and IT (Intelligent Transportation) systems are spread out throughout the whole construction process. However, most of this work happens close to when the vivastations will be completed. Security and PA systems, emergency call boxes (ECB), lights, and motion-activated heaters within the enclosed waiting area are installed, along with PRESTO/VIVA fare vending machines.

7. Fixture installation

Fixtures common to every vivastation are installed. These include, but are not limited to, garbage and recycling bins, handrails, doors, signs, and benches, signaling that the rapidway will soon be open for service.

building transit for the future

It takes time to build transit that will have a lasting impact on generations to come. Our construction projects are about more than just dedicated lanes for bus rapid transit – they’re about connecting people and places, and providing complete streets for the entire community to benefit from. Complete streets provide economic, environmental and social benefits that lead to an overall improvement in quality of life.

Transit riders, residents and businesses are best served when transit works as an integrated system. It’s crucial for transit services to work together as a well-planned network, connecting different modes of transportation and destinations. And we’re proud that our vivastations play an integral role in connecting the community in a faster, more efficient way.

STAYING INFORMED

Make sure to connect with us on social media to receive regular construction updates and stay in touch! The best way to stay informed about our construction projects is to sign-up for email notifications at vivanext.com/subscribe, and to follow us on our social media platforms.

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Rapidways Stations Uncategorized Video

watch the building of the Bathurst-Highway 7 vivastation

The iconic vivastations are starting to appear, as rapidway construction progresses in Bathurst and Centre.

The building of the first station in the area began in 2017 with excavation and construction of the platform on the Bathurst Connector Road, just east of Bathurst Street. Once the rapidway opens for service at the end of 2019, this station will be called, “Bathurst-Highway 7 Station”.

watch our latest video to see this station being built

To see how this station came together, take a look at our latest video, which takes you through some of the major steps involved in building a vivastation, including pouring 8 trucks’ worth of concrete, the careful delivery and installation of the canopies and assembling the beautiful, curved, blue-tinted glass.

why we’re doing this

Once construction of the rapidway is complete and the vivastations are open for service by the end of 2019, bus rapid transit commute times will improve. And with Viva buses travelling in their own dedicated rapidway lanes, it helps to alleviate car congestion.

Not only that, Viva buses can take advantage of priority traffic signals to help them stay on schedule, and variable message signs on station platforms tell transit riders when their next bus is coming.

Bus rapid transit also provides a viable option to get around as the populations increases over the decades to come.

To check out the vivastations and rapidways in action, they are already service in York Region on Highway 7 East in Markham, Highway 7 West between Bowes Road and Edgeley Boulevard in Vaughan and Davis Drive in Newmarket.

For information about ongoing vivaNext projects, be sure to subscribe to email updates, and follow us on Twitter. Questions or comments? Comment below or email us at contactus@vivanext.com.

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Construction Rapidways Stations Utilities

viva la winter!

Brr, it’s cold out there, or unseasonably warm, depending on the day. You never know what’s in store. Regardless of the weather, our construction crews continue to expand the Viva rapidway system to improve connections in York Region. The winter season lends itself to certain types of work, especially the kind that happens above ground.

shiny, new canopies

Forget the January blahs! It’s been exciting times on the Bathurst & Centre corridor this past month. The first two vivastation canopies were installed at Bathurst/Hwy 7 Station located on the Bathurst connector road, one for each side of the station. There’s nothing like seeing that crane lift the canopy into place!

The elegant, arched glass canopies evoke traditional European transit infrastructure, transforming the everyday experience of transit into a beautiful one. A third canopy is coming this winter to the vivastation on Bathurst at Atkinson Avenue.

Looking to the west, construction of the first vivastation platform is beginning to take shape at what will be Commerce Street Station on Highway 7 West.

On both Highway 7 West and Bathurst & Centre, road widening and construction of storm sewers, retaining walls and culvert work is underway. Winter is also a great time to relocate hydro lines and install new poles, which is getting close to being completed in this area.

signals, check!

Our Yonge Street projects are not as far along, and the underground utility work they need to do is limited during cold weather. Crews have made some progress on installing underground duct banks and gas mains in Richmond Hill. Traffic signal work, a good above-ground winter activity, and is also underway. In Newmarket, crews are preparing to start work on the east side of Yonge when the weather gets a bit warmer. They’ll be replicating the road widening that was performed on the west side last year.

planning season

Winter is also a great time to make plans, large and small. We’re working together with the TTC on design and engineering for the biggest plan of all – the Yonge Subway Extension. Also, our staff and contractors are carefully planning spring construction schedules for the Viva rapidway projects, coordinating in advance with stakeholders, and procuring contractors for other projects.

Come spring, our crews will be raring to go, full steam ahead. If you’d like to keep on top of what’s going on in your community, we invite you to sign up for updates.

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Commissioning Construction Facilities and terminals Rapidways Stations Technical

the critical role of spiders in building Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station

Now, before you think we’ve imported some exotic tropical arachnids, what we call “spiders” are actually the stainless steel fittings that hold together the glass pieces on our stations. They’re called spiders due to their shape, and they play a critical role in the architectural and structural design of our stations.

For the new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre [VMC] rapidway station, the main structural support comes from the welded steel superstructure that forms the distinctive curved shape. Over top of that, steel, custom-made spider fittings are bolted to each steel intersection. The spider fittings support the individual glass panels on the station’s sides and skylight.

410 panels of glass

Each triangular-shaped panel of glass is attached by brackets on the legs of the spiders. Because each piece of glass is a unique size and shape, the job of attaching the glass to the spiders is very fiddly. The extra-large 50 by 24 metre VMC canopy has an eye-popping 410 panels, each equally spaced and slightly different due to the station’s curved planes. The tempered glass can’t be cut or drilled on site without shattering, so holes for the brackets were made during the fabrication process.

beautiful precision

We knew if the holes in the glass didn’t line up exactly to the spider brackets, the glass pieces wouldn’t fit. Since glass fabrication is a fairly slow process, we didn’t want to risk having to go back and remake a piece. Rather than making the glass in advance, we installed the spiders, then measured them with a 3-D laser scanner that registered the targets as multiple cloud points; essentially the same process used to make a 3-D model.

The last step was the installation of the glass panels to the station roof, and seeing all this precision and planning come together for beautiful results. Now if you visit the VMC rapidway station, you can take shelter under a strong and stunning glass canopy reminiscent of the great European architectural traditions, right here in York Region.

 

Categories
economic & financial General Innovation Rapidways Stations Subways Urban Planning

great transit knows no borders

The vivaNext mandate is to build a strong bus rapid transit network in York Region, but our responsibility doesn’t end at our Region’s borders. We’re forging transit connections that help people get wherever they want to go, in our Region and beyond. That’s why we partner with organizations like Metrolinx, and engage in big-picture thinking about how people use transit and what customers want. We don’t live our lives constrained by regional borders, why should our transit systems?

crossing borders

A key feature of the Metrolinx Draft 2041 Regional Transportation Plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area [GTHA] is that it calls for historic levels of transit investment to deliver more – and more frequent – transit service across the region that crosses regional borders more simply and efficiently. Another key strategy is optimizing the system, so we make the most of what we have.

getting ready to meet RER

For example, over the next 10 years, the Metrolinx Regional Express Rail program plans to transform the GO rail network – the backbone of regional rapid transit in the GTHA – providing two-way all day service north-south, east and west. This doesn’t happen in isolation. We’re preparing to offer integrated services with YRT/Viva networks, to serve passengers riding the trains.

one fare system

We’re not there yet, but that’s the direction we’re headed. From a passenger perspective, a transit system with one simplified fare system that transcends regional boundaries across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area could make a lot of sense. We’re on our way with the PRESTO card, which you can use to pay for transit at 11 different transit agencies in the GTHA. As digital apps improve and new technology comes on board, we look forward to what comes next.

TTC subway, now running in York Region

The regional transit system took a giant leap forward with the first TTC subway to cross regional borders, connecting with the Viva bus rapid transit network. Now we’re seeing what one subway [and bus rapid transit] connection has done for Vaughan, with all the ground-breaking residential, office and entertainment development at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. The next top priority transit project for York Region is the Yonge Subway Extension, which will elevate regional subway connections to an entirely new level.

These are just some of the ways we’re involved in strengthening regional transit connections, a task that comes with challenges and opportunities.

To understand more about the challenges in our region and beyond, the Ryerson City Building Institute hosted Breaking Transit Governance Gridlock, an all-star panel on regional transit governance. Read their blog about the event.

Categories
Commissioning Construction Facilities and terminals Rapidways Safety Stations Technical

beautiful curves of glass

If you’ve ever had to replace a window in your house, you know that working with glass is fiddly, exacting work. It needs to fit perfectly or you’ll get drafts and leaks. Glass has no tolerance for being the wrong shape or size. And dropping a pane from a window: well, that means another trip back to the store.

Now, imagine the challenges of installing the glass on the curves of our new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre [VMC] rapidway station. As you can guess, it was a long, multi-stage process, done with great care and precision.

strength and safety

As with all our vivastations, the VMC glass was laminated and tempered for strength and safety. First the glass was cut into panes, and then it went through a special process to make it extra strong. This way, if it breaks, it crumbles into small granular chunks instead of sharp pieces.

To add more strength and make it even safer, we then laminated the tempered glass by sandwiching two glass sheets together around an interlayer. If the glass is broken, the interlayer holds the small pieces together instead of breaking into many little shards, the same way a car windshield stays together in an accident. The interlayer on the blue skylight glass is actually a different, stronger material than the interlayer used for the clear side glass, since the top skylight needs to support heavier loads from snow and maintenance workers.

creating curves

Fitting flat glass to the curved shape of the station was a challenge, because every surface of the steel roof curved over two dimensions, much like the outside of a ball. The first step was to divide the glass into a series of triangles. Three-sided shapes are easier to work with compared to four-sided shapes, the same way a tripod is more stable on uneven ground compared to a four-legged chair.

But this still left the challenge of fitting flat pieces of glass over a curved frame. The solution here was to adjust the bolts on the corners of the spiders [the stainless steel fittings that hold  the glass pieces onto the frame] so they’re each set at a different height. We knew how high each bolt needed to be from 3D scans, so we adjusted them before we installed the glass. By installing each corner of glass at a slightly different height, we recreated the curves of the tubular steel frame.

intricate jigsaw puzzle

The last step was putting the glass panels in place, one by one. Although they were all triangles, every piece was unique like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, so to avoid mix-ups they were carefully numbered before they were delivered. Once the glass panels were bolted onto the spiders and the final adjustments made to perfect the curve of the glass, we sealed the gaps with caulking to make the structure weather-tight.

Building this strong and beautiful glass-covered station took precision, but look at the stunning results! This landmark station helps set the architectural stage for future development at the VMC and makes the everyday experience of transit a beautiful one for our customers.

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 Community Events Construction Facilities and terminals Rapidways Stations Subways

Subway and new Viva connections NOW OPEN in Vaughan!

This morning, the first subway carrying transit customers arrived in York Region, forging a historic connection between bus rapid transit and subway. Now, everyone can experience seamless transit connections in Vaughan! The vivaNext rapidway and new landmark vivastation also opened for service this morning with an epic celebration at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre [VMC], alongside the TTC Line 1 subway extension opening. Viva la subway!

Read the news release.

even more transit connections

Now the transit connections available to customers simply go further and faster. The rapidway-subway connection marks a tipping point for transit in York Region, amplifying the power of the Viva rapid transit network.

The VMC area is a transit powerhouse, home to two new stations: the landmark Vaughan Metropolitan Centre vivastation and the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station – the new terminus of TTC Line 1. In a few months, the SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal will make the VMC area even better, connecting YRT buses to both stations with a pedestrian tunnel.

true city building

There’s no doubt – your destination has arrived! The new VMC development is true city-building on an epic scale, built on the foundation of strong transit connections. Not only does rapid transit transform how people move in our Region, it changes how we live – for the better. Stronger economies, more jobs, and walkable, livable, desirable communities: it’s the driving force behind York Region’s Transportation Master Plan and the reason we build rapid transit.

On an even larger scale, strong connections like these that cross regional borders are crucial to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area [GTHA], and a key strategy of the Metrolinx Draft 2041 Regional Transportation Plan.

Thank you!

Now we can see the network take shape in York Region, with three rapidways running, two more underway and an actual subway connection!

Changes of this magnitude are fueled by the power of collaboration and funding partnerships. Our rapidway projects are funded by the Province of Ontario, and our other projects are funded by a combination of Federal, Provincial and Regional contributions. SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal even includes some private funding for the pedestrian tunnel.

We’ve all come a long way together, and we thank you for your patience during construction. Now, we hope you enjoy the ride!

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.