Bus Rapid Transit Segment Opening in Vaughan

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Station directly connects to Line 1 subway

VAUGHAN, December 11, 2017—Today the Honourable Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx, Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO of The Regional Municipality of York, Mauricio Bevilacqua, Mayor of the City of Vaughan, and Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of the City of Markham and Chairman of the York Region Rapid Transit Board, joined together to celebrate the transformation of Vaughan, with the official opening of another bus rapid transit (BRT) rapidway segment on Highway 7 West.

This Sunday, December 17, the new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station will open as part of the rapidway segment from Bowes Road to Edgeley Boulevard, coinciding with the opening of the Line 1 subway extension. Located west of Jane Street at Millway Avenue, passengers will be able to connect directly from this rapidway station to the TTC subway and the adjacent SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal, which will open in 2018. The York Viva bus rapid transit project represents a $1.4 billion (2009$) transit investment from the Government of Ontario.

Transit improvements in this area will benefit 11,000 businesses and 330,000 residents. . York University, just seven minutes away by subway, has over 50,000 students and young professionals who will benefit from the convenient and integrated services.

Features of the new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre rapidway station include a canopy that completely covers the rapidway lanes, longer and wider platforms to accommodate a large number of passengers, and elevators and escalators to the subway station below.

“The Ontario government is pleased to see our growth plans come to life in York Region,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation. “Our transit investments in York Region and across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area are further proof of our government’s commitment to provide commuters with convenient and well connected travel options.”

“Transportation is a top issue for those who live, work and commute in York Region,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “This project is an example of the significant investments York Region continues making to benefit all our residents as they move across the GTA.”

“This project shows how transit services can be connected across municipal boundaries to improve mobility,” said Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx. “We’re working together with municipalities like York Region to transform and connect communities in the GTHA.”

The York Viva bus rapid transit project is part of Metrolinx’s Regional Transportation Plan, a 25-year plan for an integrated and sustainable transit and transportation system in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The project is being funded by Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario. Visit metrolinx.com for more information.

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:

Celso Pereira
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Minister’s Office
416-327-6372
Celso.Pereira2@ontario.ca

Bob Nichols
Communications Branch
416-327-1158
bob.nichols@ontario.ca

Sarah Harris
Communications
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
905-886-6767
sarah.harris@york.ca

Alex Burke
Metrolinx
416-202-5726
alex.burke@metrolinx.com