Yonge Street Rapidway Explained

Number:Yonge Street Rapidway
Titlecolor:
  1. FFF
Status:Open
System:Viva Rapid Transit
Routetype:Bus rapid transit
Locale:York Region, Ontario
(Newmarket; Aurora; Richmond Hill; Markham; Vaughan)
Start:Newmarket Terminal
End:Richmond Hill Centre Terminal
Stations:10
Length:NaN1NaN1
Operator:York Region Transit

The Yonge Street Rapidway is a bus rapid transit corridor on Yonge Street in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Construction of the Yonge Street portion of the network began in 2014.[1] The Rapidway is primarily used by the Viva Blue service.

The Yonge Street Rapidway is central to the Vivanext transport masterplan and will eventually extend from the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre at Highway 7 to Green Lane in East Gwillimbury.

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.[2]

The first segment from the Newmarket Bus Terminal on Davis Drive to Mulock Drive opened in January 2020. The second segment, from 19th Avenue to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal at Highway 7, opened in December 2020.[3]

The corridor was originally intended to continue south of Richmond Hill Centre Terminal towards the regional bus terminal at subway station in Toronto. However, with the anticipated northward extension of the Yonge–University subway, Richmond Hill Centre will remain the Rapidway's southern terminus.[4]

Stations

Excluding the terminals, there will be up to 19 Rapidway stations between Newmarket and Richmond Hill. Ten stations were open by the end of 2020.[5]

Stations
Name Opening date Municipality
Newmarket TerminalNewmarket
DavisJanuary 5, 2020[6]
Eagle
Mulock
SavageTBD
Orchard HeightsAurora
Wellington
Golf Links
Henderson
BloomingtonAurora / Richmond Hill
RegattaRichmond Hill
King
Jefferson
19th–GambleDecember 20, 2020[7]
Bernard
Elgin Mills
Crosby (heritage area)
Major Mackenzie
Weldrick
16th–Carrville
Bantry–Scott
Richmond Hill Centre

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yonge Street – Richmond Hill and Newmarket . York Viva Bus Rapid Transit . Metrolinx . September 25, 2017.
  2. http://www.vivanext.com/yonge-street-richmond-hill/ Yonge street / Richmond Hill and Newmarket
  3. Web site: Project Map . vivanext . York Region Rapid Transit Corporation . Rapidway Construction (2014-2018) . September 25, 2017.
  4. Web site: Yonge North Subway Extension . Regional Transit Project Profile . Metrolinx . Rapid Transit Connections: York vivaNext BRT, the Richmond Hill GO Train line . September 25, 2017.
  5. Web site: Yonge Richmond Factsheet. YRT. September 26, 2017.
  6. Web site: Viva Bus Rapid Transit Segments Opening in Vaughan and Newmarket . www.vivanext.com . January 3, 2020 . January 3, 2020.
  7. 1339635960749977601. YRTViva. As of this Sunday, Dec. 20, Viva blue riders can travel along the new corridor on Yonge.. December 17, 2020.