YORK REGION, ON, Sept. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Metrolinx has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to three teams pre-qualified to deliver the next phase of the York Viva Bus Rapid Transit (vivaNext) rapidways project in Vaughan and Markham.
The expanded vivaNext rapid transit system will make it easy to travel in and around York Region and connect to other transit systems across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The vivaNext rapidways will reduce travel times and increase reliability of existing transit service along the heavily congested sections of the transit corridors. Dedicated bus lanes will provide fast and reliable transit service, while reducing delays caused by frequent stops to pick up and drop off passengers. This expansion includes:
- Approximately 12 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes in Vaughan along Highway 7, from Helen Street to Interchange Way/Edgeley Boulevard, and from Bowes Road to Yonge Street via the existing Centre Street and Bathurst Street Viva route.
- Approximately one kilometre of dedicated bus lanes in downtown Markham. Flexibility will be built into the design to allow for coordination with future development in Markham Centre.
The three teams invited to develop proposals to design, build and finance the project are EDCO, m7 Transit Partners and York RapidLINK Constructors. Each team successfully demonstrated through a rigorous request for qualification process they had the required design and construction capability and experience, and the financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and complexity.
The York Viva BRT project represents $1.4 billion in provincial transit investment, and is an example of The Big Move in action - Metrolinx's 25-year plan to implement a common vision for transportation in the GTHA. The project is being implemented by Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario. For more information, please visit metrolinx.com.
Infrastructure Ontario, on behalf of Metrolinx, will manage the Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) process for this portion of the vivaNext rapidways. Once the contract is awarded, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) will manage all day-to-day construction operations and York Region will operate YRT/Viva service. Metrolinx will retain ownership of the rapidway asset.
YRRTC is responsible for the planning, design and construction of the full vivaNext rapid transit network and related infrastructure to deliver on the transit priorities set out in the York Region Transportation Master Plan. YRRTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary and share capital corporation of The Regional Municipality of York. The vivaNext plan is a key component of the vision outlined by Ontario's Places to Grow Act, which aims to manage growth in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way that enriches communities. For more information, please visit vivanext.com.
Quotes:
Bruce McCuaig, Metrolinx President and CEO
"The steady and continued progress of the vivanext transit expansion project is a success story for York Region Transit, The Regional Municipality of York and Metrolinx. We are pleased to be part of this important project - one that improves regional connectivity, increases capacity and reliability in key corridors and makes transit the more attractive travel option for commuters.
Bill Fisch, York Region Chairman and CEO
"Together with the Government of Ontario, we continue to work hard to build rapid transit throughout York Region and help reduce congestion by providing our residents and visitors with an attractive and efficient means of travel to and from work, school, shopping and entertainment destinations."
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SOURCE: Metrolinx vivaNext
Contacts:
Danielle Hutson
York Region Rapid
Transit Corporation
905-886-6767
Alex Burke
Media Relations
Metrolinx
416-202-5726
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