Viva Rapid Transit
Viva is the bus rapid transit operations of York Region Transit in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service forms the spine for YRT's local bus service, providing seamless transit service across York Region with connections to northern Toronto.
Viva was designed and built using a public–private partnership model. York Region partnered with York Consortium, which comprises seven private sector firms with international experience in transit design, architecture, construction and operations. Under the terms of the partnership agreement, public sector responsibilities include establishing fare policies and service levels, ownership of all assets, and control of revenues and funding. Private sector responsibilities include providing professional staffing and procurement support, assuming risk on all approved budgets and schedules, and assisting York Region in its funding and financing requirements.
Viva opened in stages commencing September 6, 2005. The second stage opened on October 16, 2005, the third on November 20, 2005, the fourth on January 2, 2006, and the fifth on January 27, 2008.
Six routes are in operation: Viva Blue, Viva Purple, Viva Orange, Viva Pink, Viva Green, and Viva Yellow, which opened in November 2015.
Overview
Viva is the first phase of York Region's rapid transit plan to reduce traffic congestion.The service uses high-end Belgian-built Van Hool and Canadian-built NovaBus buses referred to as "rapid transit vehicles". To maximize speed, buses make use of existing or specially lengthened right-turn lanes bypass lineups at intersections, and of bus-only lanes and roads to avoid traffic. When behind schedule, they are given priority at traffic signals.
Viva operates 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 5:30 am to midnight on weekdays, 6:30 am to midnight on Saturdays and 8:00 am to midnight on Sundays. During peak hours, buses arrive every three to ten minutes depending on the route. Outside of peak hours, buses arrive 10–45 minutes apart.
Stops along the routes are referred to as "vivastations", and incorporate a ticket vending machine, a ticket validator, and a Presto card reader. A real-time display that notifies passengers when the next vehicle is expected to depart. Viva stations are typically blue, except where they are part of a theme.
Viva routes connect to stations on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 4 Sheppard of the Toronto subway, as well as GO Transit railway stations and bus terminals. Viva is integrated with YRT's existing bus network, and passengers pay one fare to use Viva and the regular bus system. Fares are valid for unlimited use for two hours from the time of purchase. To speed up boarding times, Viva uses the "proof of payment" system. Rather than have drivers sell fares, passengers obtain tickets at vending machines and Viva officials occasionally check to ensure all passengers have paid their fare.
Routes
As YRT’s mandate does not include local service in the city of Toronto, Viva vehicles travelling south of Steeles Avenue do not pick up passengers when travelling southbound to connect to Toronto subway stations, and do not allow passengers to disembark when travelling north.In 2009, YRT/Viva bus schedules became available on Google Transit; trip planning, detours, and fare information are available to riders over the Internet.
Major locations and terminals
Viva operates at several major locations and terminals, with Viva stations at:- Finch Bus Terminal - north of Finch TTC station. An elevator and Viva fare machines are available.
- Newmarket Terminal - across from Upper Canada Mall on Davis Drive, at Eagle Street West.
- Richmond Hill Centre - Yonge Street at Highway 7/Highway 407 next to Silvercity Richmond Hill theatres. Langstaff GO Station is accessible through a pedestrian overpass.
- Promenade Terminal - in Vaughan on the north side of Promenade Mall, on Centre Street west of Bathurst Street.
- Bernard - on east side of the mall on Yonge Street at Bernard, just north of Elgin Mills Road.
- Don Mills station - located outside the TTC's Fare Paid Zone, near Fairview Mall on Don Mills Road opposite Leith Hill Road, just north of Sheppard Avenue, as well as inside the fare-paid zone.
- Unionville Station - located adjacent to the Highway 407 and Kennedy Road interchange in the city of Markham.
- Markham-Stouffville Hospital - located near the hospital on Church St. and Country Glen Road. in Markham near 9th Line and Highway 7.
- Vaughan Metropolitan Centre - Located on Highway 7 west of Jane Street
Future terminals
The opening of Cornell Terminal had been planned for July 2007, but it has been postponed to 2020. The terminal is to be built south of Markham Stouffville Hospital, near the intersection of Ninth Line and Highway 7. Construction of the terminal began on July 31, 2018. The current Markham Stouffville Hospital terminus is a standard VivaBRT stop in an area next to the hospital.Fares and payment
Viva services are considered part of YRT, and hence are covered by the same system. This means riders can transfer between Viva services and other YRT services without paying an additional fare. Riders can also transfer from TTC buses operating in York Region, assuming that they have paid the YRT fare when boarding the TTC bus or exiting the TTC bus.Unlike conventional YRT buses, Viva buses are not equipped with onboard fareboxes. Riders must purchase or validate their fare from "oneRide" ticket machines, available at all Vivastations. In addition, riders may purchase multiple ride fares from authorized vendors or at "multiRide" ticket machines, available at select terminals where Viva operates. Single ticket fares are good for a two-hour time window on any Viva or YRT route. In July 2011, the Presto card smart card was launched in York Region, providing another payment method.
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 rapidways will be located in the centre median of roadways, they may also be located curbside to accommodate certain conditions. Rapidway projects funded for construction in York Region are located on Davis Drive, Highway 7 and Yonge Street. Eventually, rapidways could be replaced with a light rail transit system.History
In November 2008, the provincial transportation agency Metrolinx selected two infrastructure projects for construction beginning in 2009, including major components of the VivaNext plan. Metrolinx gave its final approval to a $7 billion, five-year capital plan that includes over $1 billion for construction of several rapidways.In the spring of 2009, the Province of Ontario committed $1.4 billion for rapidway construction. The Cornell Terminal in Markham has received $5.6 million in funding through the provincial government's "Quick Wins" program.
Davis Drive rapidway
The Davis Drive rapidway in Newmarket extends 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 project was completed in 2015.
Highway 7 rapidway
The Highway 7 rapidway is planned to eventually extend from Highway 50 in Vaughan to Cornell Terminal in Markham. It will connect three major urban centres in York Region; Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Richmond Hill/Langstaff, and Markham Centre.All stops from Wigwoss-Helen in Vaughan to Post Rd in Markham are currently operational as of January 2020.
Yonge Street rapidway
The Yonge Street rapidway will extend north along Yonge Street from Richmond Hill Centre Terminal at Highway 7 to Green Lane in Newmarket.The first segment, which extends from Davis Drive to Sawmill Valley Drive/Savage Road in Newmarket, opened on 5 January 2020. The second segment between Highway 7 and 19th Avenue/Gamble Road is expected to open in December 2020.
Vehicles and fleet rosters
Viva's buses are referred to as Rapid Transit Vehicles. Viva operates 56 Van Hool buses and 47 Nova buses. All Viva vehicles are wheelchair-accessible.To reduce time spent loading passengers, Viva routes employ a proof-of-payment fare system. Drivers do not enforce fare payment, but inspectors travel vehicle to vehicle to ensure that passengers have paid their fares. Those caught without valid proof of payment are subject to a fine. Students must produce an authentic student ID card to use student fares.
| Make/Model | Description |
 Van Hool | Articulated newAG300 |
| Van Hool | newA330 |
 Novabus | Articulated LFX |
| Novabus | Articulated LFS |
Future extensions
The VivaNext plan includes the Yonge North Subway Extension of the Yonge subway line north from Finch to Richmond Hill Centre. The Environmental Project Report for the Yonge North Subway Extension was unconditionally approved by the Ministry of the Environment in 2009. This 6.7-kilometre extension is one of the , the provincial transportation agency. A conceptual design contract was initiated in 2010 to maintain momentum on the project and provide a stronger foundation for moving it forward.Viva Network Expansion Plan (VNEP)
The Viva Network Expansion Plan is York Region's plan to expand the size of Viva's bus rapid transit network. Beginning 2015 through to 2020, the system will expand to include 6-full service and 1-rush hour line. These expansion plans will complement the region's new bus rapidways and subway lines as they open.By 2020, the following lines are planned to be in service:
- Viva Blue between Finch Subway - Newmarket Terminal, with a branch bypassing Richmond Hill Centre.
- Viva Purple between Richmond Hill Centre - Cornell Terminal, with a branch detouring to Enterprise Blvd.
- Viva Orange between Richmond Hill Centre - Highway 50, with a branch between Finch Subway - Highway 50.
- Viva Yellow between Newmarket Terminal - Highway 404.
- Viva Green between Don Mills Subway - Harding.
- Viva Silver between Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Subway - Newkirk.
- Viva Pink between Finch Subway - McCowan.
Subway extensions
Two extensions of the Toronto subway were also planned to integrate with the Viva system. The first extension was opened in 2017.Toronto–York Spadina Subway Extension
The 8.6 kilometre Toronto–York Spadina Subway Extension includes six stations and run north from the Sheppard West Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station at Highway 7 in Vaughan and was opened on December 17, 2017.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.2008 driver strike
Viva's 170 bus operators are members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which also represents most unionized staff for the Toronto Transit Commission.On September 25, 2008, 160 operators walked off the job at 4am EST. 61% of the operators rejected the contract that had been offered the previous week. While Viva service was disrupted, York Region Transit continued to operate as its drivers are represented by a different local of the ATU that did not go on strike.
On October 10, 2008, 65% of the operators voted to accept the contract that they rejected on September 25, ending the 16-day strike. Service resumed at 6am EST on October 11, 2008.