York Region Rapid Transit Corporation Sustainable urban transportation an award submission vivaNext - Highway 7 East [H3] BRT Dedicated Lanes York Region Rapid Transit Corporation and has developed its official plan, in Ontario, York Region currently has [YRRTC] is responsible for the planning, Centres and Corridors strategy, which more than one million residents and is design and construction of the York concentrates growth and development expecting to reach 1.5 million by 2031. Region Rapid Transit System and in key areas, and strengthens related infrastructure to deliver the downtowns in the Municipalities of Since 2001, York Region has had legal transit priorities set out in the Regional Markham, Newmarket, Richmond jurisdiction and responsibility for Municipality of York Transportation Hill and Vaughan. By building more transit services, which prior to 2001, Master Plan. Sustainability is defined intensively in these areas, there will was the responsibility of its local area as meeting present needs without be less pressure for growth in existing municipalities. In 2002, the Region compromising the ability of future neighbourhoods and a reduction procured York Consortium 2002 as its generations to meet the same needs. in traffic congestion. The vivaNext private sector partner to design and YRRTC has refined our organizational project is a vital part of the Region’s develop the bus rapid transit [BRT] goals to foster sustainable strategies plan for the next generation of rapid component of the York Region Rapid and approaches to transportation transit being built to support growth Transit System [YRRTS], as a part of challenges. More specifically, and to provide a sustainable future the regional transportation system in addressing the present and future for York Region. York Region. transit needs from the perspective of the environment, economy, and York Region is located in the heart YRRTS was designed to link the four social equity. of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton regional centres in York Region along Area [GTHA] in Southern Ontario. It is two main corridors, namely: from Since the 2005 passage of Ontario’s comprised of nine area municipalities Richmond Hill [in the south] up Yonge Places to Grow Act, Ontario covering 1,756 square kilometres Street to Newmarket [in the north] municipalities must plan for [678 square miles], stretching from the and from Vaughan [in the west] along sustainable, more intensive land City of Toronto in the south, to Lake Highway 7 through to Markham [in the use, adopting provincially mandated Simcoe and the Holland Marsh in the east], providing a sustainable, long- growth targets and densities for north, and bounded by Peel Region in term alternative mode of transit and their communities. York Region has the west and Durham Region in the connecting to other transit systems welcomed this planning framework east. As the fastest growing region across the GTHA. YORK REGION RAPID TRANSIT CORPORATION I 1 York region rapid transit The project is to be delivered in • Twelve [12] vivaNext station system its entirety by 2021. This award platforms and canopies; submission is for the segment that was • Accessibility towers at Bayview YRRTC delivered the first phase of completed and put into revenue service Station due to grade separation; Viva service, which involved the on August 18, 2013 – Highway 7 East in • Station furniture and way-finding; planning, design and implementation the Town of Richmond Hill and City of • Communications and fare vending of the BRT network running in mixed Markham [H3.1]. equipment, complete with ancillary traffic, the purchase of new buses, electrical infrastructure; and and the provision of off-board payment • Temporary works, traffic control, facilities. This phase was launched Highway 7 East [H3.1] project environmental controls and other in 2005, and to date, there has been overview related activities required for the 38% increase in ridership and over The H3.1 segment of the project execution of the work. 22.7 million riders. included the construction of 6 stations [12 platforms] at key The second phase, which is currently intersections, together with the Project organization underway, is known as vivaNext and design and implementation of related Funding for the vivaNext H3.1 project involves the design and construction infrastructure and facilities. The two is provided by Metrolinx, an agency of of 34.2 kilometres of segregated platforms at Bayview Station are the province of Ontario. After handover centre-lane rapidways along much curbside and include two accessibility of each segment, Metrolinx will own of the current Viva network. The plan buildings with stairs and elevators the entire transit infrastructure. York is being implemented in stages with connecting Highway 7 to Bayview Region will own the road infrastructure, contracts being awarded for different Avenue. The design and construction and will operate and maintain both the segments within the network, namely: of this project is based on solid road and the transit infrastructure. sustainable development best • Highway 7 East in Richmond Hill practices for transportation delivery of The overall vivaNext H3.1 project is led and Markham [H3], a bus rapid transit system. by YRRTC, acting as Project Manager. • Davis Drive in Newmarket [D1], McCormick Rankin Corporation [MRC], • Highway 7 West in Vaughan [H2] Implementation and construction a member of MMM Group, is the [two contracts], and of the project included the following Owner’s Engineer or also referred to as • Yonge Street [Y2.1, Y2.2 and Y3.2] in elements: YRRTC’s Consulting Engineer. Kiewit- Richmond Hill and Newmarket. • Median removals; Ellisdon, a partnership [KED] was • Drainage works; awarded the Design-Build Contract, The vivaNext project is being funded by • Utility relocations; and completed the work with various Metrolinx, an agency of the Province • Grading; construction subcontractors and of Ontario, with a mandate for a 25- • Fencing and barriers; Design Consortium [IBI Group, Delcan year plan to implement a common • Retaining structures; Corporation and Aecom]. vision for transportation in the GTHA • Culvert extensions; also referred to as The Big Move. The • Paving and pavement markings; project is an example of The Big Move • Sidewalk (boulevard) construction; in action and represents $1.4 billion • Hard and soft landscaping; [2009] in provincial transit investment, • Lighting and traffic signalization; as a sustainable option for the future • Intelligent transportation system reducing the dependency on cars and elements; providing viable alternatives. YORK REGION RAPID TRANSIT CORPORATION I 2 Innovation in design and Security Intelligent Transportation System [ITS] Advancements sustainable elements Crime Prevention Through Stations Environmental Design [CPTED] is a ITS is an international transportation- pro-active crime prevention strategy engineering discipline that is concerned The curbside stations are a series of utilized by planners, architects, police with improving the efficiency of travel, steel half-arch frames and supporting services, security professionals and whether it involves the travelling public, blue glass panels cantilevering everyday users of public spaces. The commercial vehicles, or transit. This over waiting areas and the transit incorporation of the principles of new technology is an absolutely critical platform. The design is reflective of CPTED into the streetscape design component of the vivaNext program. old train station designs to create provides monitoring capabilities and Located at each station are a bank of an iconic transit shelter and was safety peace of mind for users. fare collection equipment, including inspired by transportation architecture a Ticket Vending Machine [TVM], a from historic and modern European There are four underlying CPTED Ticket Validator [TV], and two PRESTO examples. The stations are designed concepts: machines. PRESTO allows transit with functional details that define customers in the Greater Toronto and them as placeholders along Highway • Natural Surveillance Hamilton Area [GTHA] to pay their 7. The size of the canopies was The placement of physical features fare using a convenient, electronic, important to make passengers feel and/or activities, and people that reloadable smartcard. PRESTO makes comfortable while waiting. maximizes natural visibility or it easy to pay your fare while travelling observation. within and between transit systems Integral to the design is a heated • Natural Access Control by the simple tap of a card. The new 27-metre glass enclosure which offers Deters access to a target and machines are user friendly, interactive protection from the elements, with creates a perception of risk to the and Accessibility for Ontarians with automatic doors at each end. Safety offender. Disabilities Act [AODA] compliant. and accessibility features include; • Territorial Reinforcement textured surfaces at platform edges Defines clear borders of controlled There are several transit priority and near-level boarding from the space from public to semi-private measures that help Viva vehicles on the platform to the bus. The two shelters to private, so that users of an area new Highway 7 rapidways run smoothly are aligned with each other on the develop a sense of proprietorship and quickly through congestion. These north and south sides of the rapidway, over it. include on-board components on and are able to accommodate two • Maintenance each vehicle including