Viva Bus Rapid Transit Project Wins Project of the Year Award from Ontario Public Works Association

Digital Journal
January 30, 2014

York Region Rapid Transit Corporation today received the Project of the Year Award for the Highway 7 Viva Bus Rapid Transit (rapidway) project in The Town of Richmond Hill from the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) for a transportation project valued greater than $50 million.

"I am very pleased the vivaNext rapidway project along Highway 7 was chosen for this prestigious award," said York Regional Chair and CEO Bill Fisch. "The opening of this rapidway segment is part of a wider vision and critical investment in public transit that will help manage traffic congestion and reduce people's reliance on cars to get around."

The Highway 7 vivaNext rapidway project opened on August 18, 2013. This 2.5 kilometre segment included the construction of 6 stations, bike lanes, wider boulevards and two fully accessible buildings that connect Highway 7 to Bayview Avenue with stairs and elevators.

The Project of the Year Award is awarded to an organization that promotes excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the coordination between the managing agency; the consultant, architect and engineer; and the contractor.

"The recognition from this award illustrates how investing in transit enriches communities and improves the quality of life for people living in those communities," said Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx. "This award-winning project is part of the more than $16 billion in Metrolinx transit improvement projects underway to implement The Big Move, and recognizes a strong transit improvement partnership between Metrolinx and York Region."

The York Viva BRT project represents a $1.4 billion ($2009) transit infrastructure investment from the Government of Ontario, and is an example of The Big Move in action - Metrolinx's 25-year plan for an integrated and sustainable transit and transportation system in the GTHA. The project is being implemented by Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario. For more information about Metrolinx, visit metrolinx.com.

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 Ontario's 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.