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Recently, we learned about an element of the national public health program in Japan that got us very excited – calmly excited. It’s called “forest bathing.”

Forest bathing is simple and elegant: being in the presence of trees. An article from World Economic Forum suggests, “Just be with trees. No hiking, no counting steps on a Fitbit. You can sit or meander, but the point is to relax rather than accomplish anything.”

We heartily support this idea! Each vivaNext project involves adding trees and greenery to the streetscape because it creates a more livable community. In addition, there’s evidence to show that this actually does help to create a healthier environment for the community’s citizens.

The experiments conducted by Japan’s Chiba University studied the effects of forest environments on the body. Field experiments in 24 forests on young 20somethings found that, “Forest environments promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, [and] lower blood pressure… than do city environments.”

There’s an abundance of parks, trails and forests in York Region for you to explore or simply *be* in. But we are also pleased that the Viva rapidways also offer you the opportunity to “forest bathe” as well. So the next time you’re feeling too rushed and too stressed, consider taking a forest bath!

Earth Day – the day we remember the fragility of the planet, celebrate its strength, and commit to creating a better tomorrow for future generations.

In the spirit of the 150^th anniversary of Canada’s confederation, the theme this year is “EarthPLAY for Earth Day 2017: Connect to your nature!” According to Earth Day Canada, “celebrations across the country are highlighting our great outdoors.”

This commemoration has great meaning globally as well. The Earth Day Network reports that over 1 billion people now take part in this annual celebration! Promotion of the Trees for the Earth Campaign, invites citizens to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide by 2020 – one for every person projected to be living on the planet.

Our outdoors is important to everyone – whether you’re a gardener or simply love trees and flowers, whether you’re a cyclist or ardent transit fan, you probably feel as strongly about Earth Day as we do – Earth Day shares so many of the vivaNext goals.

Celebrating Earth Day is a wonderful, worthy endeavour. However, it’s so important to think about it every day of the year. At vivaNext, we are solid in our commitment to design, plan and build transit to reduce reliance on cars, to protect and enhance our communities and streets, promote smart growth, and to help create vibrant, livable cities for today and the future.

We get questions about construction bulletins asking us for more details or explanations – and that sometimes requires us to use technical jargon. To help everyone who has subscribed to construction updates, as we build transit in York Region, here is a list of construction terms and acronyms you’re most likely to see:

• BRT: Bus Rapid Transit
• Bore holes: Drilling into the ground to bring up samples of earth for testing.
• Boulevard: The strip of grass, trees or ground cover between the sidewalk and the road.
• Canopy: The curved glass and steel structure over a vivastation platform that shelters passengers.
• Corridor: Areas where vivaNext has construction underway – e.g. Bathurst & Centre, Highway 7 West or Yonge Street.
• Cut and Cover: The method of tunnel construction that involves digging a trench, building a tunnel, and then covering it with fill.
• Daylighting: The process of exposing buried utility lines to daylight.
• Directional drilling: Sideways drilling under structures, roadways, streams, etc. to place pipes, utility lines without excavation.
• Duct bank: Groups of conduit tubes designed to protect cabling to and from buildings.
• Environmental testing or sampling: The process of boring, sampling, and testing the soil at various depths to enable geotechnical engineers to analyze characteristics of the soil.
• Geotechnical testing: Also called “environmental testing” or “environmental sampling”, it’s the process of boring, sampling, and testing the soil at various depths to enable the geotechnical engineer to discover and analyze characteristics of the soil.
• Hoarding: A temporary wooden fence around a building or structure under construction or repair. For example, there is hoarding around the Union Hotel on Davis Drive.
• Hydrovac: A large truck-mounted vacuum used to bore holes to locate underground utility cables and pipes.
• Locates: Coloured markings that locate underground infrastructure. Sometimes they’re done with little flags; sometimes with spray paint.
  • Red – Electric power lines and lighting cables
  • Yellow – Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, gaseous or dangerous materials
  • Orange – Telecommunications, alarm or signal lines
  • Blue – Water, irrigation and slurry lines
  • Green – Sewer and drain lines
  • White – Route of proposed line or location of proposed excavation
  • Purple – Reclaimed water
  • Pink – Temporary construction markings and monuments.
• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment is what everyone working on a vivaNext construction corridor must wear, even if we’re just out taking pictures.
• Rapidway: Dedicated lanes for Viva bus rapid transit down the centre of the road.
• Rolling lane closures: A lane closure that is both short in length and duration, where crews move it from work area to work area. For example, storm sewer inspections require rolling lane closures.
• Storm sewer inspections: This involves lowering a camera into a storm sewer to inspect it. A storm sewer is used for groundwater, rainwater, surface water, or similar non-polluting wastes.
• Valve chamber: a pre-cast concrete chamber from which a gate or valve can be operated. Used for water mains.
• Vivastation: the bus rapid transit stations we’re building on a vivaNext rapidway. Includes a platform in each direction, like a train station.
• VMC: the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area around Highway 7 West between Edgeley Boulevard and Jane Street in the City of Vaughan.

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

Over the past few years, transit needs across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area [GTHA] have been a top priority. We’re proud that York Region is actively working to meet those needs by bringing rapid transit to our region. In 2002, the Region produced the York Region Transportation Master Plan and the follow-up Rapid Transit Plan, outlining the Region’s blueprint of multiple transportation initiatives to be built over the next 30 years.

With such a great emphasis on the need for transportation across the GTHA, one would think congestion is what’s driving us to transform the way people commute across our Region. What if we were to tell you that it’s actually people, not vehicles, that drive us to make urban centres connected by transportation ‘corridors?’ We believe that by focusing on people, and thinking about how they will be able to get around the region more easily with efficient transportation options, is how we lead this transformation.  People are looking for more choices, and convenience is top of mind.

For example, much of the new development around vivastations is mixed-use, which provides housing, employment, retail, dining, services and recreation – all within walking distance of transit. At its core, this puts people first – by creating welcoming public spaces and offering an array of amenities, these communities will continue to prosper and thrive.

Join us on our journey of putting people first by connecting them with their community and more choices.

Coming soon: the annual greening of the rapidway!

Once again, the trees, perennials and shrubs already planted as part of the projects on Highway 7 East, Highway 7 West and Davis Drive will be sprouting and leafing and budding and greening up the streetscape.

Not only that, you’ll be seeing crews on Highway 7 West planting in areas that were missed last spring because they were still under construction, making sure the area is as verdant as envisioned!

It’s essential to the vivaNext projects that the streets are attractive for the people who inhabit the communities around them. Not only that, but studies have shown that living in treed areas have can actually have a positive effect on your health.

To keep things growing year after year, the species planted have been carefully chosen. Specially designed soil cell technology helps the soil and roots stay as healthy as possible.

The vivaNext project is about much more than delivering great transit!

In Thornhill, the residents and businesses in and around Bathurst & Centre Streets are getting a new, modern water main. This will not only help to prepare the area for future growth, it’s also simply time to upgrade the old pipes in order to avoid future water main breaks and floods!

Here’s a quick look at how it’s being done:

• It’s already happening. On Bathurst Street, Installation of the water main is well under way, from Centre to the Highway 7 connector ramp. And this month crews are starting up construction of this vital utility on Centre Street, from New Westminster Drive to Dufferin Street.

• Two techniques. The Bathurst section is being done mostly with the directional drilling technique, which reduces disruption to a narrower street. On Centre, since there’s more space beside the road on the south side, we’re combining open cut excavation and directional drilling.

• Taking extra care. When crews install the new pipes beside the current ones, it takes extra care and time. Once the pipes and chambers are in, crews will follow the cleaning and testing processes, all to meet very strict standards.

• Connecting to the new system. When the water main upgrade is ready to connect, residents and businesses will hear from us in advance. Individual addresses are simpler to connect, but businesses and multi-unit residential buildings take longer. Again, we will keep you well informed on what to expect and when.

• Everything is important. As with all vivaNext construction, we’re always working to balance priorities. The biggest is to keep the water on for everyone during the work. Another is to minimize disruption as much as possible.

This key piece of new infrastructure will last for generations to come, and leave a lasting legacy for the Bathurst & Centre community. Check out this utility video to find out more.

For more information on ongoing work be sure to sign up for email updates, and follow us on Twitter. Questions or comments? Comment below or email us at contactus@vivanext.com.

With cool weather and colourful leaves surrounding us, fall is the perfect time to get outside and be active. From perusing pumpkin patches to checking out Halloween decorations, there’s no shortage of things to do. If you find yourself looking for somewhere to go, maybe we can help…

Newmarket: Strawberry Creek Farms

Most of the local farmers’ markets and family fun farms are open until the end of October, so this weekend and the PA Day on Friday may be your last chance to get a taste of farm life. On Davis Drive just east of Highway 404, Strawberry Creek Farms has become a staple for outdoor family fun.  To get there on transit, transfer from Viva Yellow to Durham Region Transit route 960 at the Highway 404 and Davis Drive park and ride. Featuring wagon rides, pumpkin cannons and corn mazes, Strawberry Creek Farms is not to be missed.

Markham: Main Street Markham Trick or Treat

This Saturday, October 29, head out to the Main Street Markham Trick or Treat [see map] for some spooky family fun. Viva Purple will get you to the foot of this spooky street via Highway 7. From noon to 4pm, join local business owners they hand out tricks and treats to all who are willing to put on their Halloween best.

The sun is setting earlier, so if you’re walking, or taking your kids trick or treating, be sure to wear bright colours and reflective clothing. And if you’re driving, remember to stay alert and watch out for our little ghosts and gremlins. Happy fall everyone!