York Viva Bus Rapid Transit

When complete, dedicated lanes in the centre of the road – rapidways – will allow rapid transit buses to move out of congested traffic, enabling people to get around York Region’s busiest corridors faster by using transit. With 34.2 km of planned segregated routes, they will provide more reliable service to travellers, with more frequent service of two to five minutes between arrivals in peak periods, and connections with GO Transit, regional transit and future extensions of the subway system. These rapidways will encourage the development of attractive and pedestrian-friendly places with a mix of uses along their routes where people will come to live, work, shop and play in close proximity. New stations along the routes will be designed for passengers’ comfort, safety and convenience. The first of the projects broke ground in winter 2009 and all are scheduled to be complete by 2020.

These projects are part of Metrolinx's $1.4 billion commitment to improving transit in York Region, just one component of a larger $9.5 billion commitment in the priority projects of Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan, The Big Move.

A Master Agreement between Metrolinx, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation and The Regional Municipality of York governs the funding, implementation, and ownership of the Bus Rapid Transit program in York Region. York Region will oversee all day-to-day operations and routine maintenance decision-making and delivery for all elements of the bus rapidway. They will also operate the Viva service and administer all service contracts. Metrolinx will be responsible for asset preservation and replacement decision making and funding.

Viva map  

Now being implemented:

Hwy. 7, Markham/Richmond Hill
Davis Drive, Newmarket
Yonge Street, Richmond Hill
Hwy. 7, Vaughan
Yonge Street, Newmarket

Hwy. 7 design-build project between Yonge Street and Warden Avenue, Markham/Richmond Hill

A rapidway along Enterprise Boulevard was the first segment of dedicated lanes for Viva rapid transit vehicles to be completed in York Region. Metrolinx and York Region have awarded a design/build contract for early construction work on the next rapidway segment. Early construction activity is now underway for a 6.4 km rapidway along Hwy. 7 from Yonge Street to Warden Avenue at Enterprise Blvd in Markham. This project is funded through Metrolinx and is scheduled to be complete in 2014.

Also along this corridor, the first Bus Rapid Transit station in York Region – Warden Station – has opened. Located at Warden Avenue and Enterprise Boulevard, it is one of 11 new stations that will be built along Hwy. 7 in Markham and Richmond Hill in the next phase of service. Warden Station is located at the western entrance to Downtown Markham - a pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented urban development site that is a key component of Markham's Urban Growth Centre and part of the Province's Places to Grow strategy.

News release - Metrolinx and York Region deliver $250 million in rapid transit expansion
News release - First Viva BRT station now open in York Region

Davis Drive design-build project between Yonge Street and the Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket

Davis Drive Bus Rapid Transit dedicated rapidway will extend 2.6 km from Yonge Street to Roxborough Road and Patterson Street – just east of Southlake Regional Health Centre.

Metrolinx and York Region have awarded a design/build contract for the early construction work and it is scheduled for completion in late 2011. Widening of the road and construction of the rapidway will commence in 2012 and expected to be completed in 2014.

News release - Metrolinx and York Region deliver $250 million in rapid transit expansion

Yonge Street from Richmond Hill Centre to Major Mackenzie Drive, Richmond Hill

Yonge Street Bus Rapid Transit dedicated rapidway will extend north from the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre at Hwy. 7 to 19th Avenue. The rapidway will connect people from the rest of the Greater Toronto Area to this busy and vibrant area.

The projected completion date for the first segment from Hwy. 7 to Major Mackenzie Drive is 2015. The rapidway from Major Mackenzie Drive to 19th Avenue will be constructed between 2016 and 2020.

Hwy. 7 in the vicinity of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Vaughan

Hwy. 7 Bus Rapid Transit dedicated rapidway will eventually extend west from Yonge Street to Highway 50. The first segment will be built around the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. At the terminus for the Spadina subway extension, subway riders will have seamless connections to Viva and other transit systems.

The rapidway from Hwy. 400 to Creditstone Road is scheduled to be completed by 2015. The segments from Creditstone Road to Yonge Street and from Helen Street to Edgeley Boulevard will be constructed between 2016 and 2020.

Yonge Street from Mulock Drive to Davis Drive, Newmarket

A new Bus Rapid Transit dedicated rapidway will provide a convenient way for riders to travel and avoid congestion along Yonge Street, linking to the Davis Drive rapidway for access to the hospital, Newmarket’s Heritage area and an improved Davis Drive.

The projected completion date for this segment is 2017.