October 07, 2016
NEWMARKET, October 7, 2016 – Today the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation; Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO, The Regional Municipality of York; Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO, Metrolinx; and Tony Van Bynen, Mayor of the Town of Newmarket, joined together to celebrate the transformation of Newmarket, with the completion of the bus rapid transit (BRT) rapidway project on Davis Drive.
The Davis Drive rapidway was completed and opened in November 2015, extending 2.7 kilometres from Yonge Street to Roxborough Road, with service continuing in mixed traffic another 2.3 kilometres with curbside stops and a turn-around at the new park and ride facility at Highway 404. This past spring, crews began work to implement the finishing touches of planting trees and installing the last sections of sidewalk.
Rapid transit along Davis Drive promotes growth and development, and supports the priorities of the Town of Newmarket’s Strategic Plan, York Region’s Centres and Corridors plan, Metrolinx’s Regional Transportation Plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
“The Ontario government is pleased to see our growth plans coming to life in Newmarket,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation. “Our transit investments in Newmarket and across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area are further proof of our government’s commitment to provide accessible, modern transit infrastructure to help reduce commute times and improve the quality of life for Ontarians.”
“The completion of the Davis Drive Rapidway is the latest example of Regional Council’s absolute commitment to improve transit and transportation in York Region,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “With the support of our senior funding partners at Queen’s Park and in Ottawa, we are providing reliable transit options that will move people faster and drive economic growth and job creation across the Region.”
“Metrolinx is proud to be working with its regional partners to build more transit and get more people moving across the GTHA,” said Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx. “With connections to the TTC, GO Transit and York Region Transit services, the York Viva BRT project is helping us turn our vision of a modern, integrated transit system into a reality.”
Along with providing a convenient new travel option, the Davis Drive rapidway project helped transform Newmarket with updated utilities, new infrastructure such as a water main and the Keith Bridge, and wider boulevards. These improvements will help support the continued growth and development in Newmarket’s town centre.
The Davis Drive rapidway project is part of a larger York Viva BRT project, which represents a $1.4 billion (2009$) transit investment from the Government of Ontario, and is part of Metrolinx’s Regional Transportation Plan, a 25-year plan for an integrated and sustainable transit and transportation system in the GTHA. The project is being delivered by Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, in collaboration with York Region Rapid Transit Corporation. Visit metrolinx.com for more information.
Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history — about $160 billion over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit. Since 2015, the province has announced support for more than 475 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
Investing in transportation infrastructure is part of Ontario’s plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) is responsible for the planning, design and construction of the full vivaNext rapid transit network and related infrastructure to deliver on the transit priorities set out in the York Region Transportation Master Plan. YRRTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary and share capital corporation of The Regional Municipality of York. The vivaNext plan is a key component of the vision outlined by the Places to Grow Act, which aims to manage growth in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way that enriches communities. For more information, please visit vivanext.com.
Contact:
Tanya Fobear-Wilson
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
905-505-1504
Tanya.Fobear-Wilson@york.ca
Alex Burke
Metrolinx
416-202-5726
alex.burke@metrolinx.com
Andrea Ernesaks
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Minister’s Office
Andrea.Ernesaks@ontario.ca
Bob Nichols
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Communications Branch
416-327-1158