Transportation in Vaughan
The City of Vaughan in Ontario, Canada offers a complex transportation infrastructure, which includes highways, public transit, regional roads, municipality-funded roads, and train services.
Air
Because of Vaughan's proximity to Toronto, Vaughan residents use Toronto Pearson International Airport in order to travel to various domestic and international destinations.
Alternatives to the Toronto Pearson International Airport are available in the nearby city of Markham, where the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport is located. The municipal airport primarily serves York Region, and offers flights to domestic and United States destinations.
Public transportation
Within the City of Vaughan, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Viva (bus rapid transit), and York Region Transit (YRT) offers public transit services for the local residents. Prior to 2001, Vaughan was served by a municipal-funded transit system, namely Vaughan Transit. In 2001, the York Regional government "merged" the Vaughan Transit with four other municipal-managed transit systems in York Region to form YRT. In 2005, York Region Transit launched Viva, which operated in parts of Vaughan on Highway 7. In addition, GO Transit provide passenger trains and shuttles to help commuters to get to their work.
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
Due to the pattern of the street grid, most north-south bus routes in Vaughan are operated by the TTC under contract to York Region. These buses all connect to subway or RT stations in Toronto, and thus help to connect Vaughan with Toronto.
There are a total of 6 TTC contracted bus routes operating within Vaughan (that is 35% of all 17 TTC routes operating in York Region). A special fare policy applies to these contracted TTC bus routes. If a passenger boarded a TTC contracted bus route in York Region, and only travels within York Region, the passenger may transfer to YRT/Viva operated bus routes, or other TTC contracted bus routes without paying a second fare. If a passenger boarded a TTC contracted bus route in York Region and travels into Toronto (or from Toronto into York), they must pay an extra fare to continue their ride into the other transit system's territory.
Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE)
The extension of the Spadina rapid transit branch of the Yonge-University-Spadina Line north to Vaughan was announced by the Government of Ontario in its 2006 budget. The six proposed stations are provisionally named Downsview Park, Finch West, York University, Pioneer Village, Highway 407 Transitway, and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. This extension is scheduled to open in 2018.[1]
| Station name | Architect | Artist | Location/intersection | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Village Station | Alsop Architects with SGA/IBI Group Architects | realities:united (Tim and Yan Edler) | York University / Steeles and Murray Ross Pkwy | |
| Highway 407 Station | Aedas | David Pearl | Highway 407 and Jane | |
| Vaughan Metropolitan Centre | Arup with Grimshaw Architects | Paul Raff Studio | Vaughan Metropolitan Centre / Highway 7 and Jane |
York Region Transit (YRT)
A merged system of Vaughan Transit and four other municipal-managed transit systems, forming York Region Transit in 2001. The York Region Transit is now serving all over Vaughan with over 20 routes. Most of its bus routes are operating on the main routes throughout Vaughan, which is laid in a grid-like system. Transfers between bus routes are available at major intersections. Passengers are required to pay a flat fee of $4.00, no matter of age. Unlike travelling on TTC contracted routes, travelling on the YRT and entering Toronto does not require an extra fee. The York Region Transit allows Vaughan residents to travel around York Region, and to the surrounding GTHA with GO Transit Connections.
Other than that, YRT offers Route #360 Maple Express (17% of 6 YRT express routes). The express travels on higher speed limit roads, such as Highway 407, and connects with Yorkdale Bus Terminal.
The YRT has two major terminals in Vaughan: Promenade Terminal located at the Promenade Mall and Vaughan Mills Terminal located at Vaughan Mills Mall.
Connections to other transit systems include Brampton Transit, MiWay, Toronto Transit Commission, and GO Transit.
Viva
Due to the increased congestion on York Region's roads, the York Region Transit launched a bus rapid transit (BRT) on September 4, 2005 at 9am EDT, and named it Viva, meaning "praised by everyone" in Italian. Unlike YRT, Viva only stops at Vivastation, an especially designed station which incorporate a ticket vending machine and a ticket validator (fares are on a proof-of-payment basis to speed up boarding times), as well as a real-time "smart" display that notify passengers when the next vehicle is expected to depart. Most Vivastations are blue, but several stops on Yonge Street have a unique bronze design referred to as "vivavintage" in order to better suit the historic areas, especially along Yonge Street in Thornhill, where space is short, and will be served by miniature "vivamicro" stations. YRT fares apply to VIVA.
It is the brand name for the York Region Rapid Transit Plan, and was funded through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) consortium called the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation. York Region has control over all fares and service planning. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's conventional transit service and operated as one regional transit system (1system) that enables customers to travel across the Region.
The system was opened to public in four stages. The second phase was opened on October 16, 2005, the third phase was opened on November 20, 2005, and the first part of the fourth phase was opened on January 2, 2006.
There are four viva lines operating within Vaughan (80% of Viva lines operating within York Region): Viva Blue (on Yonge Street), Viva Purple (on Highway 7), Viva Orange, and Viva Pink (an alternative to Viva Blue at peak-hours).
All of the Viva bus lines operate in the south zone of the Viva transit system (with the exception of Viva Blue buses that travel north to Newmarket into zone 2). Viva bus lines operate using Van Hool and Novabus blue buses. The Viva buses are given with priorities of traffic signals, meaning that the bus driver could "adjust" the traffic lights when the bus are behind schedule due to a traffic congestion. This significantly improve the efficiency of the viva bus. Buses are operated 18 hours a day, 7 days per week, and 365 days a year. Bus frequency ranges from 5 minutes to 15 minutes.
In the future, parts of the Viva Orange route connecting Vaughan to Downsview Station would be discontinued as an extended subway line would replace the route.
Rail
The Barrie line, operated by GO Transit, provides the only passenger service to Vaughan. The two stations in the city are Rutherford GO Station, located in Concord east of Keele Street and south of Rutherford Road, and Maple GO Station in Maple, located north of Major Mackenzie Drive and east of Keele Street. The line terminates at Barrie in the north and at Union Station in Toronto in the south.
Roads
In terms of road systems, Vaughan is strongly influenced by its southerly neighbour, Toronto. Vaughan inherits a grid-like road network, funded by three levels of government. The government of Ontario funds the provincial highways across the town; the government of York Region funds most of its arterial and main routes throughout the town; and the government of Vaughan funds all local routes, and some arterial routes.
Provincial highways
The Ontario government only funded certain roads across Vaughan, and designates them as Ontario Provincial Highways. These include Highways 400 and 427. Highway 400 serves as a major expressway linking Toronto, Vaughan, and Northern Ontario. Prior to the 1998 massive downloading, the Ontario government also maintained Highway 7 (now York Regional Road 7), Highway 11 (now York Regional Road 1, locally known as Yonge Street), and Highway 27 (now York Regional Road 27).
York Regional Roads
Majority of the main routes are urban "county" roads maintained by York Region. Each one of them is assigned with a number, each shown by a shield shaped like a flowerpot. York Regional Roads, like roads in Toronto, are laid out in a grid-like system. Most of the north-south routes continue street names from Toronto. The York Regional Roads are laid out in a grid pattern about two kilometres apart. The regional road system is particularly successful due to the landscape across Vaughan and York Region being relatively flat.
Most of the York Regional Roads within Vaughan are four or six lanes, with a few exceptions in the rural areas to the north and west, where they are mostly two lanes.
Municipal roads
The City of Vaughan also funds some of the main routes, and all of the light-duty roads. Major roads that are funded by Vaughan are favourited by motorists for travelling within the town. Most cars wanting to visit other nearby municipalities must use York Regional Roads, therefore, although they are called the "Municipal main streets", they are relatively light duty. These roads often serve as an alternative to car jammed York Regional Roads. The City of Vaughan also funds almost all residential streets across the town.
Privately controlled
In addition, Highway 407 Express Toll Route (407 ETR) is a toll, major east-west expressway, and is privately controlled. The route was provincial controlled, but is now privately owned. The highway serves as a by-pass to Highway 401 and Highway 7, which are very busy roadways. Users using the Highway 407 must pay a certain fare which is invoiced to them monthly.
Cameras install on on- and off-ramps of Highway 407 capture either the rear license plate number or transponder information from vehicles using the road. Transponders can be leased from Highway 407 for automobile users. Vehicles over five tonnes must use a transponder to use the road. Vehicle owners without a transponder are charged a "video toll charge" in addition to regular toll charges per distance traveled.
Highway 407 has an arrangement with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation requiring that all outstanding fees must be paid in order for drivers to renew their driving licenses.
Highway 407 primarily serves Vaughan from York Regional Road 1 to York Regional Road 24. The highway connects Vaughan with Pickering to the east, and Burlington to the west.
References
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