New Viva rapidway bus routes open in Richmond Hill Dec. 20

6.5-km stretch of Yonge Street is final segment of first phase of York Region’s rapid transit network

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 21, 2020
Heidi Riedner

The final segment of the region’s first phase of dedicated bus lanes and stations is finally open to transit users with the launching of Viva bus rapidways in Richmond Hill Sunday, Dec. 20.

The first phase of the vivaNext project included just under 34 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes and 38 new stations along York Region’s busiest corridors, representing a $1.8 billion (2017 dollars) transit investment to improve travel times and service reliability, as well as integration with other transit services.

“As Richmond Hill continues to grow, we know getting around the city easily is a priority for our residents and our Council, and working with our partners we are making it happen,” said Mayor Dave Barrow.

“We are pleased to welcome the opening of this stretch of rapid transit that will increase our connectivity to the transit network, improve accessibility for those who live and work in our community and provide a corridor for York Region residents to connect to the future Yonge North Subway Extension at Richmond Hill Centre.”

The 6.5-kilometre stretch of Yonge Street in Richmond Hill includes seven new stations that feature heated waiting areas, enhanced security and live service announcements.

The projects are complete street rebuilds, replacing and updating utilities and infrastructure, like water mains, culverts and bridges, adding bus lanes and building new tree-lined sidewalks, traffic lanes and bike lanes.

As of the end of 2019, over $2.1 billion in assets have been delivered in York Region, including rapidway stations and lanes, boulevard work, underground infrastructure, streetscape features, facilities and terminals and subway infrastructure.

That includes the new 5.5-kilometre stretch of the vivaNext rapidway project in Vaughan, which runs along Centre and Bathurst streets to the Bathurst and Hwy. 7 station.

In Newmarket, the 2.4-kilometre rapidway runs on Yonge Street from Savage Road/Sawmill Valley Drive to Davis Drive, making connections to the GO train station, bus routes and the Davis Drive and Hwy. 404 park and ride.

The plan also includes two subway extensions and two light rail transit lines.

The regional network is part of $8.6 billion in funding the provincial government announced in 2009 for transit projects in York Region, Toronto and Hamilton.

York’s Viva bus rapidways received $1.4 billion of that. The project was divided into segments to phase-in construction over several years to help limit overall disruption.

The Viva Blue route will use the rapidway on Yonge Street from Hwy. 7 to Major Mackenzie Drive and from Levendale Road to 19th Avenue/Gamble Road.

Local YRT routes will continue to use curbside stops, with buses continuing to drive in mixed traffic between Major Mackenzie and Levendale to preserve the heritage area.

The new Richmond Hill stations are located at: Bantry Avenue/Scott Drive, 16th Avenue/Carrville Road, Weldrick Roa, Major Mackenzie Drive, Elgin Mills Road, Bernard Avenue and 19th Avenue/Gamble Road.