An in-depth look at Thornhill
questions?
we have the answers
The community and rapid transit
Residents who live and work in the Thornhill area
may be interested in the background and key
questions about the next phase of the rapid
transit system, including historical details
related to the planning, location and timing.
In this booklet, we answer the most common
questions and highlight how the vivaNext
projects will benefit our living environment
for generations to come while York Region –
and Thornhill – continues to grow.
• Planning for expected growth
started long ago
In 1994, York Region’s Official Plan outlined a
system of urban growth centres and corridors,
and a rapid transit network that will connect
centres of population and employment growth.
Two of the key urban growth centres identified
are the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area,
and the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway.
The Highway 7 West rapidway will connect
these two urban centres, including highdemand stops on Centre Street and Bathurst
Street along the way.
1
York Region’s rapidway projects went through
an extensive Environmental Assessment [EA]
process and, after 14 public consultation meetings
that were attended by over 1,200 residents between
2003 and 2004, received approval from the
Ministry of the Environment in 2006.
In 2005, the Province of Ontario mandated
plans to manage growth, limit urban sprawl,
protect green spaces and create complete
communities, including housing, employment
and transportation.
• Provincial funding for the rapidways
was announced in 2009
2
In 2009, the Province of Ontario announced
$8.6 billion in public transit funding with
much media publicity – $7.2 billion for Transit
City in Toronto and $1.4 billion for vivaNext
rapidways in York Region.
Since the funding announcement, vivaNext
has routinely issued public announcements to
the media, attended community events, placed
advertisements on radio and in newspapers,
and engaged the public through social
media channels.
• The community needs rapid transit
• Ridership demand exists now
• Thornhill Woods is a point of origin
• Subway stations will be within easy reach
High density in the Bathurst and Centre Street
area already exists, and the population and
employment opportunities will continue to
increase in the area, which is why improving
transit now along this route is so important.
Viva has travelled down Bathurst and across
Centre Street since 2005 when viva was first
launched, and serves thousands of people each
workday – the vivaNext rapidway on Bathurst
and Centre Street is not a detour or new route.
Thornhill Woods is predominately low-density
detached and semi-detached homes, and YRT\Viva
transit stops throughout the neighbourhood.
The rapidway will provide quick and convenient
access to Spadina Subway [which is scheduled
to open in 2016] and Yonge Subway [which is
awaiting full funding], offering residents and
commuters greater options for how to get around.
3
Vaughan 2020
• Bathurst and Centre Street
is a destination
The Bathurst and Centre Street area hosts a
significant number of retail shops, a theatre,
professional services, transit terminal, health
and education services, and a mix of low and
high density residential accommodations.
Rapidways connect urban centres and
key destinations within York Region, unlike
an express service that goes to just one stop
in as little time as possible.
• A rapidway on Hwy. 7, between Bathurst
and Centre Street, was evaluated and
determined not practical
The City of Vaughan is developing a plan for
sustainable growth in the Centre Street
Corridor. As part of the City’s Official Plan, a
key objective will be to manage growth while
maintaining a high quality of life for residents,
today and in the future.
The Centre Street Corridor Urban Design
Guidelines and Streetscape Master Plan
Study outline a vision for Centre Street
between Highway 7/ Highway 407 and Bathurst
Street. The renewal of this area will focus
on preserving local neighbourhoods, while
creating a sense of place through improved
retail and public spaces.
Three alignment alternatives were evaluated
as part of the Environmental Assessment,
including along Hwy. 7 between Centre and
Bathurst Streets. The existing route provides
the greatest amount of benefits and best
addresses future demands.
The Centre Street Corridor Study reflects
Vaughan’s commitment to plan and manage
the city’s growth and vitality as outlined in
the Vaughan Vision 2020, strategic plan.
For more information, visit the Centre
Street project website at www.vaughan.ca
under Major Projects.
The Hwy. 7 alternative is bound by hydro
towers and Highway 407 to the south, low-rise
commercial buildings to the west and detached
homes to the north – restricting future growth
opportunities, providing minimal benefits to
ridership and impacting operational costs due
to missed revenue.
Hig hw ay 7
oad
B owes R
H ig hway 407
Bath urs
Yo n ge S tr
eet
• Rapidways connect destinations
• Thornhill Centre Street Corridor
t Stree t
S tree t
D ufferin
Centre Stree t
H ighway 407
Land use study area
vivastation locations
Finch Avenue
4
5
vivastations provide comfort and convenience
roof extends up and over viva
vehicles to keep snow and rain off
while embarking/disembarking
arrival/departure screens provide
real-time scheduling info
extended platform length can
accommodate multiple viva
vehicles, enhancing embarking/
disembarking efficiency
roof and side panels made
of tinted glass for greater
visibility and comfort
raised platform provides
near level boarding of viva
vehicles, reducing the need
to climb steps or lift objects
security surveillance and
intercom for emergency
assistance on platform
temperature and motion activated
tactile pavers along
rapidway edge provide
greater safety
heaters in wind enclosure provide
warmth while accessible entry
doors minimize heat loss
way finding signage
provides riders with
easy and quick direction
6
energy-efficient lighting ample seating inside
throughout for greater
safety and comfort
and out provides
greater personal space
and comfort
flexible cash, pass and
Presto fare machines
7
• The project has an attractive, welcoming
design that benefits the neighbourhood
We are designing the road, rapidways and
sidewalks to reflect the overall character and
appearance of each community.
Streetscape improvements may include the
addition of trees, plants, wider sidewalks,
and street lighting.
• The rapidway project is different from
the St. Clair project in Toronto
The vivaNext rapidway project has a completely
different design, different project management
and a focus on communications with the public
and area businesses.
Looking at the Hwy. 7 rapidway segment from
Bayview Avenue to Hwy. 404 that’s opening
soon, it is clear that the vivaNext project
management and design elements speak
for the quality of this project.
• Existing traffic lanes will remain,
with added safety
Bathurst and Centre Street will have new
rapid transit lanes without losing any existing
traffic lanes, and each transit vehicle has the
potential of replacing over 70 cars.
The elimination of mid-block left turns will help
in avoiding common side-impact accidents
during heavy traffic.
Dedicated left-turn lanes and signals at
intersections, with the ability to make u-turns,
provides safer turning movements for drivers.
8
Bicycle lanes planned for this corridor will
provide an important alternative for travelling
in a pedestrian-friendly environment.
9
vivaNext route map
Barrie
Newmarket
GO Station
Sa
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gle
Dr
ive
Davis Drive
404
NEWMARKET
Highway
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WHITCHURCHSTOUFFVILLE
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Rapidway Construction (2014-2018)*
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• How construction will unfold
10
Road
et
404
Kennedy
Highway
Leslie Stre
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TORONTO
Finch Avenue
Hil
l
Finch
Station
Sheppard
West
Le
ith
Hil
l
Sheppard Avenue
In the Viva Benefits Case [Nov. 2008] issued
by Metrolinx, it states, “Based on the average
for North America and benchmarks from the
Government of Canada, a rapid bus system
would have a modest positive impact [of]
2-4% premium on residential and office
space and 1-2% on retail on property
values within a 400-meter radius of
the stations. However, based on York
Region’s integrated planning, the land
uplift will likely be higher. The impact of
VIVA on property values would be strongest
in areas where high employment and
population growth is expected....”
li e St
Les
MARKHAM
Cornell
Unionville
GO Station
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Finch Avenue
Highway 407
Do
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MARKHAM
Major MacKenzie Drive
Highway 7
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Jane Stre
y 400
Vaughan
Metropolitan
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Cr
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Highway 407
Stouffville Rd.
Elg B
in ern
M
ills ard
27
Highway
Western
Gateway
Co
m
m
er
ce
The Canada Line project in British Columbia
caused significantly higher property values
[as high as 300% in some areas] and sparked
revitalization of old communities with more
employment opportunities.
Hw
y4
07
Pio
ne
er
Vil
Yo
la
rk
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Un
ive
rs
ity
Heritage
Area
Highway 50
• Property uplift occurs with
investment in transit
Hig
hw
ay
42
Hig
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hw
ay
27
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ar
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RICHMOND HILL
Je
ffe
rs
on
GO Transit Rail Lines
Lincolnville
19
th
-G
am
ble
Yonge Stre
et
Terminals
Bloomington Rd.
Avenue
Bathurst
Spadina Subway Extension (2011-2016)*
Kin
g
Street
Future Rapid Transit
Bayview
Rapidway Construction (2015-2019)*
Ho
sp
it
am Line al
AURORA
Rapidway Construction (2012-2016)*
York Durh
Rapidway Construction (2011-2015)*
Ga
ls
w
or
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M
ar
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Rapidway Construction (2011-2014)*
Ke
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Open Rapidway
Proposed Yonge Subway Extension
Green Lane
Hw
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Highway 9
Don Mills
Station
Sheppard Avenue
* Subject to change
Map not to scale
Rev. 06 / 2014
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre
Construction will be carefully scheduled and
access to businesses, driveways and sidewalks
will be maintained as much as possible, similar
to the rapidway construction on Highway 7 in
Markham and Richmond Hill.
11
Bowes R
oad
Highway
400
Highway
Centre Str
na S
Dufferin
Helen Str
e et
Sp
ad i
Highway 407
Steet
Highway 7
vivastation
Highway 407
u bw
a
Edgeley Boulevard to Bowes Road
(2012-2016)*
Cell: 289.716.0091
Finch Avenue
Email: carrie.slattery@york.ca
TTC
Sp
ad i
na S
u bw
y
Bowes
Road
to Yonge Street
Steeles
Avenue
(2015-2019)*
Follow us on twitter. Find us on facebook.
Read our blog. Go to vivanext.com.
Finch Avenue
Nov/2014
12
Highway 407
Centre Street
Highway 407
a
Bathurst
Steet
Steet
Dufferin
Bowes R
oad
Keele Str
eet
Highway 7
vivastation
Highway 407
Richmond Hill
Centre
Highway 7
Creditsto
ne Road
Boulevard
Millway A
venue
Jane Str
eet
TTC
*subject to change
TTC
Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenu
Yonge Ste
et
Helen Str
e et
Edgeley
Highway
400
Weston R
oad
Road
Ansley G
rove
Pine Vall
ey Drive
• Sign up for updates and find project details
at vivanext.com, and follow us on
Twitter and Facebook.
Highway 7
Steeles Av
y
Tel: 905.886.6767 Ext. 71129
Creditsto
ne Road
Boulevard
Millway A
venue
Edgeley
Weston R
oad
Highway 407
TTC
Highway 7
Carrie Slattery
Highway
400
Pine Vall
ey Drive
Helen Str
e et
o ad
Weston R
oad
Mondays: 9am to noon
Wednesdays: 2 to 6pm
Ansley G
rove R
Pine Vall
ey Drive
Hours
Hig
Pine Valley Drive to Edgeley Boulevard
(2015-2019)*
Location
7800 Jane Street
[northwest corner of Highway 7 and Jane]
TTC
Highway 7
Vaughan’s drop-in Project Information
Office is also available for the community
to ask questions about the project and
see project maps:
Boulevard
Millway A
venue
Jane Str
eet
Edgeley
We will continue to use newsletters, media
announcements, social media, public speaking
opportunities and so forth during construction
to stay engaged with the community and those
who work in the area.
Ro ad
Keele Str
eet
Ansley G
rove
• More information
Creditsto
ne Road
N