Viva Next - Rapid Transit to Begin Construction in 2009
Starting in the fall of 2009 (Now that Metrolinks Funding has been established), there will be significant construction along Yonge Street and Davis Drive. The plan is to widen both corridors to accommodate dedicated lanes for the Viva Rapid Transit Buses as well as address long standing road capacity issues.
The new road design will create turning lanes but restrict left turns to signalized intersections where “U turns” will be permitted.
This growth presents an opportunity to create an exciting new vision, for “Place Making” that will provide pedestrian-friendly open spaces, residential condominiums, as well as retail and commercial space that will provide local jobs. It will feature expansion that goes up so that existing neighbourhoods can be preserved, while still allowing for growth in Newmarket.
The Environmental Assessment has just been completed, and though the project is still in the early stages within Newmarket, a target date to start construction in the third quarter of this year is an ambitious but achievable goal. Our time lines are also driven by the imminent opening of the Southlake Regional Cancer Centre in order to respond to the related traffic impacts as soon as possible.
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Comment from Randy Flewelling:
Hi Tony: Is there a web link where we can look at artist drawings of what it will look like?
Comment from Linda Parsons:
Hi Tony, I have a problem with this. When I do see the bus there aren't very many people on it and sometimes there is no one. I don't see the reason for tie-ing up Davis Drive and I think it is a waste of money. I would like to see more Go transit trains available for residents. I would like to know what the cost is going to be as a tax payer?
Linda Parsons
Comment from Tony Van Bynen:
Linda, thank you for your feedback. I hope the following information will help provide a better understanding of the overall Viva initiative and the reasons why moving forward is important for Newmarket and for our environment.
York Region Transit / Viva provided in excess of 18.8 million rides in 2008, up from 18.2 million rides in 2007, an increase of 3.8%. After allowing for the Viva strike and the York University strike this would have been more in the range of 19.2 to 19.3 million rides or 5.5% to 6% increase… almost 2 to 3 times the growth rate in our population. There is a shift toward more transit and rapid transit usage. Much of this is in part driven by residents who want to reduce their environmental footprint as well as fuel costs which while significantly down for now, will still present a challenge in our current economic circumstances. We need to invest in transit & rapid transit now for the long term sustainability of our community.
Traffic and traffic congestion have been an issue on Davis Drive and on Yonge Street for decades and we need to introduce improved transit options in addition to road capacity improvements to accommodate the growth we will be seeing along these two very important corridors. The overall costs for VivaNext are projected to exceed $100 million, and are being funded by provincial infrastructure investments through the overall GTA transit plan under Metrolinx. Were it not for this support, a project of this magnitude could not be undertaken for generations, so it is important in my view to proceed while funding is available.
While the benefits may not seem to be as clear today, they will become much more apparent as we intensify housing and commercial space along Davis Drive and Yonge Street to accommodate the new residents and jobs we are required to provide under the places to grow legislation.
Metrolinx is also funding the expansion of Go Transit to provide “all day” both ways commuting by expanding rail service concurrently over the next 2 / 3 years as we go forward with VivaNext.
Here are some links you may find informative:
http://www.vivanext.com/203
http://www.vivanext.com/rapidways
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