Vivanext

Rapidways

Often referred to as a transitway or busway by other transit authorities, the term "rapidway" is used to describe the bus-only lanes being designed as part of the bus rapid transit component of the Vivanext plan.

The proposed benefit of the rapidways is that Viva vehicles will be able travel faster than before, by avoiding the congestion associated with mixed traffic.

While most Vivanext rapidways will be located in the centre median of roadways, they may also be located curbside to accommodate certain conditions. In Markham Centre, rapidways will be constructed through a pedestrian mall.

Rapidways projects funded for construction in York Region are located on Davis Drive, Highway 7 and Yonge Street.

Davis Drive rapidway

The Davis Drive rapidway in Newmarket will extend 2.6 kilometres from Yonge Street to the Southlake Regional Health Centre.

In November 2009, pre-construction activities, such as utility relocation, planning and geotechnical investigations began for the Davis Drive rapidway. Additional pre-construction activities, such as soil testing, archaeological assessments, building demolition, and removal/relocation of light poles and signs will continue through to the end of 2010. The current project completion date is 2015.

Highway 7 rapidway

The Highway 7 rapidway is planned to extend from Highway 50 in Vaughan to Reesor Road in Markham, and will connect three major urban centres in York Region - Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in Vaughan, Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre in Richmond Hill, and Markham Centre in Markham.

In December 2009, an on-site event was held near Enterprise Drive in Markham to mark the start of rapidway construction. The segment of line was completed by January 2011.

The following segment of Highway 7 rapidway, along with the new vivastations, will open on August 18, 2013:

The following segments of Highway 7 rapidway construction will commence between 2010 and 2015:

Additional segments will be constructed between 2016 and 2020:

The remaining segments, extending the Highway 7 rapidway out to York Region's east and west boundaries, will be completed past 2020 if the project receives additional funding.

Yonge Street rapidway

The Yonge Street rapidway is central to the Vivanext plan and will extend north along Yonge Street from Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre at Highway 7 to Green Lane in Newmarket.

In February 2010, a public open house was held for the first segment of the Yonge Street rapidway, which will extend from Mulock to Davis Drive in Newmarket. The projected completion date for this first segment is 2018.

It is expected to be completed in late 2018.

Warden

Warden is a Viva station located on the Enterprise Rapidway, east of Warden Avenue, in Markham. It is served by the Viva Purple, Viva Green, and Viva Pink lines. It is the first Viva station to use Viva's new BRT stop design.

The primary destination served by this stop is Downtown Markham.

The original Warden Viva stop opened on November 20, 2005, and was located on Enterprise Drive just east of Warden Avenue.

On December 14, 2009, construction began on the Enterprise Rapidway, a new bus-only road parallel to Enterprise Drive. Because bus service would move onto this road, a new Viva station was needed to replace the existing Warden Viva station. On March 6, 2011, the new Warden Viva station opened, and the original stop on Enterprise Drive was decommissioned.

As the first Viva station of the new design, the Warden stop serves as a prototype for the remainder of Viva's rapidway stations. Consequently, some features have needed to be adjusted since operation began. To carry out changes while the warranty was still in effect, the Viva station was closed on August 19, 2011 for an expected period of two weeks. During the closure, service was moved over to Enterprise Drive and transit signals for the rapidway were turned off. The former Enterprise Drive Viva station temporarily resumed operation, but PRESTO users had to use the terminals at the new Rapidway Viva station to validate their fare. Work was completed ahead of schedule and the Rapidway Viva station reopened on September 1, 2011.

There are several stations completed and opened on August 19, 2013:

Rapidways stations on Highway 7 east of Highway 404 were opened on August 24, 2014:

One rapidway stations near Highway 7 was completed on December 28, 2014:

Future Viva stations

There are 22 stations that will be built along the Highway 7 East rapidway corridor.

The remaining Viva stations will be located separately due to space limitations.

Toronto–York Spadina Subway Extension

The 8.6 kilometre Toronto–York Spadina Subway Extension will include six stations and run north from the Downsview Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station at Highway 7 in Vaughan and is expected to be fully operational by December 2017 at the earliest.

Yonge North Subway Extension

The Yonge North Subway Extension is planned to run 6.8 kilometres north from Finch Station in Toronto to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal at Highway 7 and include up to six stations. It will pass through Markham and Vaughan on its way.