Viva Rapid Transit
Viva is the bus rapid transit service of York Region Transit in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service forms the spine of YRT's local bus service, providing seamless transit service across York Region with connections to northern Toronto. Viva bus routes operate on a mix of dedicated bus lanes and in mixed traffic.
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.
Viva consists of a total of four routes, primarily along Yonge Street and Highway 7 in York Region., Viva Blue, Viva Purple, Viva Orange, and Viva Yellow are in operation, while Viva Pink and Viva Green are former routes which are no longer in operation.
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 to 45 minutes apart.
Stops along the routes are branded as "Vivastations" and incorporate a curbside ticket vending machine and a Presto card reader. A real-time display notifies passengers when the next vehicle is expected to depart. Viva stations within York Region are blue, except where they are part of a theme in historic areas. In Toronto, the stations are red.
Viva is integrated with YRT's conventional bus network. Routes connect to Toronto subway stations both in Toronto, on the Yonge branch of Line 1 Yonge–University, and within York Region itself on the University branch of Line 1, with two stationsVaughan Metropolitan Centre and in Vaughanhaving opened on December 17, 2017. Viva also makes connections with GO Transit at commuter rail stations and most bus terminals.
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.
In April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rush hour only routes Viva Blue A, Viva Green, and Viva Pink were temporarily suspended until further notice. On August 14, 2023, YRT confirmed that Viva Green and Viva Blue A service would not resume, followed by Viva Pink in 2024. This effectively ended service to all of Viva's rush hour only routes.
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.
- 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
- Cornell Terminal – located immediately south of Markham-Stouffville Hospital on Rustle Woods Avenue.
Fares and payment
Viva services are covered by the same fare structure as conventional YRT bus routes. This means riders can transfer between Viva and regular 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 as well as Brampton Transit's bus rapid transit counterpart, Züm. Additionally, Presto card and contactless credit and debit card paying customers who pay single Viva bus fares using their stored card balance are eligible to transfer to or from GO Transit services at discounted co-fare rates through the "Ride to GO" program.To reduce time spent boarding passengers, Viva routes employ a proof-of-payment fare system. Drivers do not handle fare collection, and riders must purchase their single-ride tickets from "oneRide" ticket machines, available at all Vivastations and terminals, before boarding. The machines accept exact cash fares and credit and debit cards. Single-ride fares are valid for two hours after purchase on bus routes operated by YRT, Brampton Transit, as well as TTC-operated bus routes operating in York Region. In July 2011, the Presto card was launched in York Region, providing another payment method: riders can tap their Presto card – or, since May 2023, a contactless credit or debit card – on the Presto machine located beside the ticket vending machines prior to boarding Viva buses. In July 2017, the mobile YRT Pay app was also launched. Fares are valid for unlimited travel within two hours after purchase. YRT special constables occasionally board buses to check if passengers have paid their fares and are travelling within the two-hour time window, which, even if expiring while on board a vehicle, can result in a fine.
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 January 5, 2020. The second segment between Highway 7 and 19th Avenue/Gamble Road opened in December 2020.
Vehicles and fleet rosters
Viva's buses are referred to as Rapid Transit Vehicles by York Region Transit. Viva operates 56 Van Hool buses and 47 Nova buses. All Viva vehicles are wheelchair-accessible.| Make | Description |
| Van Hool | Articulated newAG300 |
| Van Hool | newA330 |
| Novabus | Articulated LFX |
| Novabus | Articulated LFS |
YRT also has 12 electric buses, which first entered service as a trial in 2019.