Viva Orange

Summary

Viva Orange is a line on the Viva bus rapid transit system in York Region, Ontario, Canada. The route primarily runs in an east–west direction along the Highway 7 Rapidway in Vaughan. It is operated by Tok Transit under contract from York Region.

Viva Orange
Overview
SystemYRT/Viva
OperatorTok Transit
VehicleVan Hool A330
Began serviceOctober 16, 2005 (original route)
December 17, 2017 (current alignment)
Route
Route typeBus rapid transit
LocaleYork Region
Communities servedVaughan; Richmond Hill
StartMartin Grove
ViaVaughan Metropolitan Centre
EndRichmond Hill Centre Terminal
Length19.8 kilometres (12.3 mi)
Stops17
Other routes501 Züm Queen
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Route description edit

Viva Orange runs mostly along Highway 7, between Martin Grove Road and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal on Yonge Street. A section of the route also runs on Centre Street and Bathurst Street to service the Promenade Terminal. The route connects with the Toronto subway's Line 1 Yonge–University at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station.[1]

There are 17 stations currently in operation.

Viva Orange
Name Opening date Municipality Major connections
Highway 50 TBD[2] Vaughan    501 
Highway 427
Highway 27
Martin Grove October 16, 2005
Kipling
Islington
Wigwoss–Helen November 24, 2019[3][4]
Pine Valley October 16, 2005
Ansley Grove
Weston
Commerce November 24, 2019[4]
Vaughan December 17, 2017[5]    501 
   
Creditstone
Keele
Dufferin
Taiga January 5, 2020[6]
Disera–Promenade December 17, 2017
Atkinson
Bathurst September 22, 2019[7]
Richmond Hill Centre December 17, 2017 Richmond Hill      
    Langstaff GO

Transit system integration edit

Brampton Transit edit

Viva Orange shares routing with Brampton Transit's 501 Züm Queen express bus route between Martin Grove and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC), and has been fare integrated with it since its creation in September 2010. Both Brampton Transit and York Region Transit proofs of payment are accepted for the entire length of both bus routes.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) edit

Viva Orange connects with the TTC's Yonge–University subway at VMC station. However there are currently no free transfers between the TTC and YRT. As a result, a separate TTC or YRT fare is required to transfer between the subway and Viva Orange or other YRT buses.

Route changes edit

Viva Orange originally began service on October 16, 2005 and operated between Martin Grove Road on Highway 7 and Sheppard West subway station via York University. On December 17, 2017 the Line 1 Yonge–University extension opened and replaced service between Sheppard West and Highway 7. Viva Orange's eastern terminus was relocated to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal to coincide with the subway's opening.

Future edit

There are plans to extend the western terminus to Highway 50 with additional stops at Highway 427 and Highway 27. There are also plans to add an additional branch at the eastern terminus between Promenade Terminal and Finch station.[2]

Rapidway edit

Viva Orange operates along dedicated right of way (dubbed Rapidways) between Wigwoss–Helen and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. Eventually, the entire Highway 7 Corridor could be upgraded to light rail transit.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Viva System Map January 5, 2020" (PDF). York Region Transit. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "2018 Transit Initiative". York Region Transit. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Highway 7 West Factsheet" (PDF). VivaNext. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Highway 7 West Rapidway Now Open From Commerce To Wigwoss/Helen". www.yrt.ca. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "Changes are coming to Vaughan". VivaNext. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Viva Bus Rapid Transit Segments Opening in Vaughan and Newmarket". www.vivanext.com. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "Viva Bus Rapid Transit Segment Opens Three Months Ahead of Schedule on Highway 7 in Richmond Hill and Vaughan". vivaNext. September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  8. ^ "Highway 7 West/Vaughan". vivaNext. Retrieved September 6, 2014.