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

Due to 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 Town 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 4 other municipal-managed transit systems in York Region to form York Region Transit. 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)

Main article: Toronto Transit Commission

Due to Vaughan's proximity to Toronto, some bus routes in Vaughan are operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). They are called the "TTC contracted routes operating within 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 Markham (that is 35% of all 17 TTC routes operating in York Region). There is a special fare policy to go with this special contracted bus program. If a passenger boarded a TTC contracted bus route in York Region, and only travel within York Region, the passenger must pay according to the YRT's fare policy. The passenger is entitle for another free ride of other York Region Transit/Viva operated bus routes, or TTC contracted bus routes (and that is, if the passenger does not travel into Toronto). If a passenger boarded a TTC contracted bus route in York Region and travel into Toronto, the passenger must pay an extra fare (YRT's fare and TTC's fare). The passenger is entitle for a free ride on the subway or RT or streetcars, or TTC bus routes operating within Toronto. If the passenger enters York Region again, he or she must pay another fare for the YRT.

Extension of the Yonge-University-Spadina Line into Vaughan

Main article: Toronto subway and RT § Yonge-University-Spadina line extension to Vaughan

The extension of the Spadina 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 Sheppard West, Finch West, York University, Steeles West, Highway 407 Transitway, and Vaughan Corporate Centre. The TTC estimates this expansion could open by 2014/2015.

Station name	Architect	Artist	Location/intersection	Estimated completion date
Sheppard West Station	AECOM	Panya Clark Espinal	Downsview and Sheppard
Finch West Station	Alsop Architects	Bruce McLean	Keele and Finch
York University Station	Foster + Partners	Jason Bruges Studio	York University / Steeles and Keele	Late 2015
Steeles West 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 Corporate Centre Station	Arup with Grimshaw Architects	Paul Raff Studio	Vaughan Metropolitan Centre / Highway 7 and Jane

York Region Transit (YRT)

Main article: York Region Transit

A merged system of Vaughan Transit and 4 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 $3.25, 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 Markham residents to travel around York Region, Toronto, Brampton (YRT Route#77 travels to Bramalea City Centre), and Hamilton (YRT connects to GO shuttle)

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.

YRT currently hosts no major terminals in Vaughan. The nearest YRT major terminal to Vaughan would be Richmond Hill Centre and York University.

There are 2 unofficial terminals (i.e. the terminal is not plotted with a terminal icon on the YRT route map) located near the Promenade Shopping Centre, namely the Promenade Terminal and one located near Canada's Wonderland, namely the Wonderland Terminal.

Brampton Transit, Mississauga Transit, Toronto Transit Commission, GO Transit, Viva, and York Region Transit serves these two unofficial terminals.

Viva

Main article: Viva (bus rapid transit)

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. Passengers must pay the YRT's fare policy.

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 4 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 4 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. Viva bus lines operate using Van Hool 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

Main article: GO Transit

The GO Train (Government of Ontario Trains) operates within Vaughan, providing 2 stations across the city. The system is also known as GOT, or GTTA (Greater Toronto Transit Authority). GO Train is an interregional passenger train and passenger shuttle service (as mentioned above, see the "GO Bus" section) across Greater Toronto Area. GO Train operates on the CN line in Vaughan, and only during rush hours. The two GO stations in Vaughan are as follows:

• Rutherford (Rutherford Road and Keele Street)

• Maple (Major MacKenzie Drive and Keele Street)

GO Train operates only the E line (Barrie Line) in Vaughan. There are a total of 10 stations on the line. E line continues north to Barrie, while continuing south to Union Station, which also connects Via Rail, TTC bus/subway/streetcar lines, and other GO train lines.

There are no VIA train services within the city.

Roads

In terms of road systems, Vaughan is strongly influenced by its southernly neighbour, Toronto. Like Toronto, Vaughan inherits a grid-like road network, funded by 3 different 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 downtown, Vaughan, and Northern Ontario. Prior to the 1998 massive downloading, the Ontario government also funded 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

Main article: List of York Regional Roads

Majority of the main routes are urban "county" roads funded by York Region. Each one of them is assigned with a number, each shown by a shield shaping like a flowerpot. York Regional Roads, like roads in Toronto, are laid out in a grid-like system. Most of the north-south routes inherit names from Toronto. For example, Keele Streetin Toronto is still called Keele Street in Vaughan. The York Regional Roads are laid out in a grid pattern about 2 kilometers apart. The regional road system is particularly successful due to the landscape across Vaughan and York Region is relatively flat.

Most of the York Regional Roads within Markham are four-laned, and available in both directions, with a few exceptions to the northern and western farmlands, where they are mostly paved with two-lanes both directions.

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 is formerly provincial controlled, but is now privately owned. The highway serves as a by-pass to Highway 401 and Highway 7, which are very busy highways. Users using the Highway 407 must pay a certain fare.

How Highway 407 works is that every time the customer uses the route, the camera installed above the on-ramps take record of the transponder, leased by the Highway 407. The transponder holds information of the customer's automobile, and thus will mail the bill to the transponder's holder's residence. In case of the customer has no transponder, the camera takes a photo shot of the car license, and a video toll charge will apply. If the customer fails to pay, an interest would be added to the owed amount. The fee would be charged when the customer attempts to renew their driver license.

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.