VivaNext advances in Newmarket - launches retrieval project with Habitat for
Humanity York Region

NEWMARKET, ON, June 8, 2010 /CNW/ - Habitat for Humanity York Region joined officials today from Metrolinx, The Regional Municipality of York and the Town of Newmarket to recover materials from 21 buildings slated for demolition along Davis Drive in preparation for improvements along this busy corridor - including Viva rapid transit lanes (rapidways). This effort will help to ensure that at least 85 per cent of the building materials are recycled or reused and diverted from landfill.

The recovered materials, such as sinks, cupboards, countertops and lumber, will be brought to Habitat for Humanity's ReStore locations in Newmarket and Vaughan where the items will be sold. Money generated by the sale of the recovered materials will assist Habitat for Humanity York Region, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada, a national, non-profit organization, with their goal to build four homes in York Region by the end of this year.

"We're helping each other, supporting the community and protecting the environment - it doesn't get much better than that," said Nancy Van Kessel, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity York Region. "We appreciate the opportunity to recover perfectly good materials because they'll go right back into the community through our ReStore outlets, which then helps us fund construction of new homes for needy families in the community."

"This transformation will benefit generations to come - creating more travel choices, more jobs, and less urban sprawl," said Leslie Woo, Vice President of Policy and Planning at Metrolinx. "Investing in transit now helps strengthen our economy, our communities and our environment."

"The rapidways will help transform this main corridor while protecting surrounding neighbourhoods," said Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen. "Welcoming boulevards, attractive residential areas, an energized atmosphere and more choices on how to get around - we're really looking forward to the future."

The Davis Drive rapidways will be built from Yonge Street to Huron Heights Drive, just east of Southlake Hospital, where Viva will then transition back into mixed traffic for the remainder of the route to Highway 404.

This project is being funded through Metrolinx, the agency appointed by the Province of Ontario to oversee transit expansion in the Greater Toronto Area. To read about Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan, The Big Move, please visit: www.metrolinx.com/thebigmove/index.html.

York Region's 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 about the vivaNext plan and to sign up for specific project updates, please visit www.vivanext.com.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity York Region, please visit www.habitatyork.ca.

For further information: Dale Albers, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, Cell: [phone], [email protected]; Metrolinx: Vanessa Thomas, [phone] ext. 5264, or Robin Alam, [phone] ext. 5640