The Canadian Roadgeek

Does anyone know what exactly are they upgrading for their real-time bus system?

I'm too lazy to flip through the previous pages, I think this might have been asked before, but... PRESTO is rolling out on York Region Transit \ Viva next spring, but what are the arrangements for TTC-contracted service in York Region? How will PRESTO card work for these buses? I mean, it'll be really inconvenient if PRESTO only works on YRT and Viva buses, but not TTCs.

About the destination signs that were discussed earlier, I was thinking... should the eastbound Viva Purple destination sign be simplified? Right now it reads Viva Purple ~ Markham Stouffville ~ Hospital... maybe simplify it like Mark.-Stouff. Hsp. or M-S Hospital (Like other YRT routes), so that it's two screens to read, not three? And I think the third screen "hospital" in the end is just awkward (personally)...

I found this proposed Viva Orange service change stuff somewhere on Urban Toronto. I agree to it to some degree, and would like to share it. I have also made some modifications on my own part. Brampton Transit 501 Zum Queen | VIVA 605 Orange Integrated full service. It operates on the same basis as it did back in the YRT / BT 77 partnership. This involves extending Viva Orange to Downtown Brampton Terminal. Zum Queen will extend towards Downsview Station. Due to this service change, Zum Queen will operate at a frequency of 30 minutes, and so will Orange. The combined frequency for the two routes will be 15 minutes for the entire day. An option for the route would be routing east on Highway 7, skipping Interchange Way (Vaughan Corporate Centre stop would have to be relocated on Highway 7), then south on Keele Street, to minimize congestions on Jane Street. This does not affect BT 501A Zum Queen. VIVA 607 Orange "A" Viva Orange "A" would bypass York University (I do realize how many passengers are from York University, but keep in mind this is just a suggestion), not serving all the stops between Interchange Way and Downsview Station. Viva Orange "A" after leaving the relocated Vaughan Corporate Centre stop will proceed east along Highway 7, then east on Centre Street, and to the current Purple routing (through Promenade Terminal, etc.) towards Richmond Hill Centre. Viva Orange "A" only operates during rush hours only. VIVA 601E Blue "E" A new branch of Viva Blue "E" provides rush hour trips between Newmarket Terminal and Finch Station, only serving Newmarket Terminal, Mulock, Wellington, King, Bernard, Major MacKenzie, 16th-Carrville, (bypassing Richmond Hill Centre, optional), Finch Station. (Express stops negotiable) VIVA 608 Purple "A" I think this has been talked about before on the YRT thread on this forum, and some claim that it exists already. This Viva Purple branch would by-pass Richmond Hill Centre during rush hours, and will NOT service Enterprise Road, instead, continue east on Highway 7 after Town Centre Blvd. After Town Centre Blvd. stop would be Kennedy Road.

I don't get what's the point of implementing Viva Blue "A" then. I mean, it doesn't save that much time by-passing Richmond Hill Centre. And besides, the Newmarket "B" Service reaches York Mills GO Bus Terminal. YRT should implement those drop-off and pick-up only stops for Viva Blue "A" to York Mills GO Bus Terminal to really replace the Newmarket B Service. --- And a quick idea based on what I said above. Since 165 goes to York Mills Station anyways, why not make York Mills Station into something like Finch Station (i.e. a GO bus terminal with YRT connections). We can connect Viva Blue "A", 88+, etc. etc. Just a random idea popped up, not sure if it'll be valid since it's sort of redundant to the Finch GO Bus Terminal on a second thought.

I think he meant "serving all stops EXCEPT Richmond Hill Centre". And I think you meant 90B. Yes, the frequency is worse. It used to be ~17 minutes during rush hours on the 25D. But they'll be improving the frequency to 20 minutes as opposed to the current 30 minutes beginning from the end of June.

o... I was there too... I "detoured" to Finch Station today... to look at the setup, get a bottle, and also test-ride 301 (I haven't been on 301 before). Anyhow, I got a bottle, and there were like four people (I think there was)... one of them is taking a picture for everyone who got a bottle...

The YRT site says And Enzo's post says the same thing. Therefore, both of these statements said "bypassing Richmond Hill Centre" but didn't say anything about local stops. The conclusion is that I will not able to find out from these statements, as they are "nonexistent" in both statements. We cannot simply make assumptions based on that. ------- But I guess, aside from the argument above, that Viva Blue "A" will make all local stops. They should really have something that skips the "relatively minor" stops along the line.

Maybe they should call it "Viva Blue Lite" (and spelled as Lite) instead. I kind of like that name. And does the Viva Blue "A" make all stops except Richmond Hill Centre? Also, the Viva Green schedule, now that it's going to be adjusted beginning this summer, it will mess up my commute in the new school year due to connection problems and increased waiting time (for me, at least)

Did anyone get the free water bottles this morning? Also, about the new Viva Blue A. I know this might spark up some confusion, but wouldn't it be better (in my opinion) to assign another colour to the Viva Blue A, like I mean something like Viva Brown, Viva Black, or something like that... so people can actually differentiate between the "express" and the "regular". Just a thought.

September 6, 2010 marks the 5th anniversary of Viva.

Yes don't forget 25E Don Mills Express, was going to say that: Limited stops at Pape Station, Cosburn, O'Connor, Thorncliffe Park, Overlea / Gateway, Eglinton, Lawrence, York Mills, Duncan Mill / Graydon Hall, Parkway Forest / Havenbrook, Don Mills Station, Van Horne, Finch, McNicoll, Steeles Italic text suggest possible stops of the express route.

Just to update my wishlist of route changes, including new ones for TTC. YRT \ Viva 9A Ninth Line (Full day service, weekdays) Provide better connections to Ninth Line between Steeles Avenue and Highway 7, and to better serve the new Cornell and Hoover Park communities, a new branch of Route 9 should be created. South starting at Steeles (a loop similar to the Islington Loop might be constructed, also connects YRT 2 and TTC 53), passing through M-S Hospital, and resumes routing along 9th Line, extending service north on 9th Line, east on Bethesda Sideroad, and connect to Lincolnville GO Station during rush hours. The frequency of this branch should be 1 hour, providing a combining frequency of the corridor to be around 1 hour for midday (as opposed to 2 hours right now), and maintain current 30 minutes frequency during rush hours (i.e. every 1 hour there's a Route 9 branch, and every 1 hour there's a route 9A branch, combining with 30 minutes frequency). Only Route 9A will reach as far north as Lincolnville GO and as far south as Steeles Avenue. (Steeles Avenue terminus may require more investigation on the technical details...) Alternate routing: Use 10th Line north of Stouffville Road. That way, Route 9A also serves part of Stouffville Road and 10th Line. (Improves service on Stouffville Road, rather than one-direction service by Route 15) Third Option: Use Hoover Park Drive to reach to 10th Line. This provides community service to the new subdivision near Hoover Park. (Better enhance service, supplement to Route 15) 21B Brimley North Contracted TTC route. A new branch of 21B should stretch from Scarborough Town Centre north on Brimley to 14th Avenue, while looping perhaps via 14th Avenue, McCowan Road, and Highglen Avenue. 21B is more "urgent" than 130 (Middlefield) as there are no transit service yet on Brimley Road (while Middlefield Road has portions of Route 2). 27 Highway 27 | 28 Highway 27 - Zenway Combine Routes 27 and 28 together. Service on Highway 27 is redundant between Steeles Avenue and Royal Group Crescent. Limited diversions may be provided to Royal Group Crescent upon merger of the route. A suggestion upon merger is to increase service frequency to 20 minutes (due to extra vehicle availability upon merger). Until timing is more appropriate (i.e. when the business park is fully completed), Route 28 should be routed via Martin Grove Road (north), then west on Zenway Blvd., following west on Fogal Road, south on Highway 50, then loop back via Highway 7. 42 Berczy - South Unionville (Rush hours service) In effort to improve to improve travel time, I think the route should be re-routed via east on Manhattan Drive past Shorthill Drive, then north of Saratoga Road, passing 16th Avenue to Stonebridge Drive, resuming current's alignment. This is now deem possible since the intersection at 16th Avenue / Saratoga - Stonebridge is now due to be traffic signaled. Schedules should also be adjusted, to reflect actual travel times and to better sync with certain GO Train trips at Unionville GO Station. 43 Rodick - Markland (Rush hours service) This would serve mainly The Woodbine By-Pass, Markland Street, and Rodick Road, and the industrial park south of 407 ETR. North from the Honda plant, following south on Woodbine By-Pass, turning right (south) on Markland Street, following Markland Street south, continue east on Calvert Road, turn right (south) onto Rodick Road, following Rodick Road to Riviera Drive, west on Riviera Drive, then briefly north on Woodbine, then west on 14th Avenue, then loop via Hobbs Gate, Konrad Crescent, Shields Court, and Woodbine Avenue back east on 14th Avenue to Rodick Road. 88A Bathurst Provide service along Bathurst Street, south of Steeles Avenue, to Wilson Subway Station. This will replace TTC Route 160 Bathurst North. Routes 88 and 88E will remain current routing. 90B Leslie - Don Mills In effort to better serve the Seneca Newnham Campus (and since the Finch Loop is now completed), I think the route should be diverted (at least selected trips anyways) to the Seneca Loop (which has now completed construction) on Finch Avenue East. So in essence, 90 can serve the Don Mills / Leslie Corridor proper (i.e. faster travel time), while 90B diverts to places around this corridor (i.e. Seneca and the Beaver Creek Business Park, therefore a bit slower in travel time) 601 Viva Blue Extension of the line could be implemented from Newmarket GO Terminal north to Green Lane. This would implement 2 more Vivastations at London Road and Green Lane. 603 Viva Purple / 604 Viva Pink / 606 Viva Green As mentioned in the YRT thread. In an effort to improve travel time, Viva Purple and Viva Green should use the new alignment of Enterprise Drive and Unionville Gate to Kennedy Road, instead of diving south, diverting to the YMCA via Rivis Road. This would involve a new vivastation located at Rivis & Enterprise. Viva Pink will keep its current alignment. ------- Note: Some of the suggested service changes above have not been considered due to resource limitations. TTC 25A Don Mills | 25B Don Mills Due to cancellation of Route 25D, Route 25 now has (in theory) more vehicle availability. Instead of implementing 25S (short turn) whenever needed, a new branch 25A should be created, short-turning at Thorncliffe Park Drive, following current routing, ending at Finch Avenue, either loop through the Seneca Loop, or via Seneca Hill Drive, or keep the current 25S routing (via Skymark). 25A would be a full-time branch for Mondays - Fridays. Route 25B will be a rush hour branch. North also ending at Finch Avenue, with the same looping arrangement as 25A. And the south end would be looped via Wynford Drive and Eglinton Avenue. Southbound buses, for example, will follow east and south on Wynford, and then west on Eglinton, then back to original routing. 72A Pape North To "make up" on the reduced service of 25 Don Mills on Pape Avenue (north of Pape Stn.), a branch of 72A should be implemented, from Union Station, and north on Pape, connecting at Pape Stn, then continue north on Pape, and then loop back on Thorncliffe Park Drive. (or alternatively, the route can loop back via Donlands and O'Connor). ------ That's it for now (until next time when I think of some more...)

The last ever TTC-contracted Route 25D Don Mills southbound trip is scheduled to depart from 16th Avenue now... Anyone planning to take the final 25D trip before 25D disappears?

Route 90 - Leslie South #4229 at Bedle Avenue - YRT pronounces Bedle as "Bed-dle", but the corresponding TTC (Route 25+) automated announcement at the same stop pronounces Bedle as "Bead-le". Which one is correct? (I am thinking YRT is wrong since Crystal is computer-based).

Thanks for your feedback Maybe making the route 43 Rodick - Markland? Like instead of looping at the northern end of Rodick, the route should go west on Calvert, past Woodbine, north on Markland, and north on Woodbine By-Pass (I know the construction is not quite completed yet), and then somehow loop back near Victoria Square (maybe divert to Honda), but this is kind of overlapping Route 24D/224B/224D :angry: And the Hillmount area seems really over-served... Maybe it's just cause I'm not really familiar with the locale... and you have the point on Miller Avenue. The route would be better off on Riviera Drive.

YRT / Viva Routes: 42 Berczy - South Unionville In effort to improve to improve travel time, I think the route should be re-routed via east on Manhattan Drive past Shorthill Drive, then north of Saratoga Road, passing 16th Avenue to Stonebridge Drive, resuming current's alignment. This is now deem possible since the intersection at 16th Avenue / Saratoga - Stonebridge is now due to be traffic signaled. 43 Rodick Very controversial. Actually, it doesn't receive much support (at least I think so). But I would like to see a route serving Rodick Road during rush hours anyways. The route will loop north on Rodick Road, east on MacRill Road, south on Village Gate Drive, and then west on Calvert Road, and back to Rodick Road. Then loops south on Rodick Road, west on 14th Avenue, north on Hobbs Gate, onto Konrad Crescent, then out to Woodbine Avenue via Shields Gate, then north on Woodbine, followed by east on Miller Avenue, finally back to Rodick Road. This would serve the Rodick Road corridor (residential), and the industrial park south of 407 ETR. 90B Leslie - Don Mills In effort to better serve the Seneca Newnham Campus (and since the Finch Loop is now completed), I think the route should be diverted (at least selected trips anyways) to the Seneca Loop on Finch Avenue East. So in essence, 90 can serve the Don Mills / Leslie Corridor proper (i.e. faster travel time), while 90B diverts to places around this corridor (i.e. Seneca and the Beaver Creek Business Park, therefore a bit slower in travel time) 603 Viva Purple / 604 Viva Pink / 606 Viva Green As mentioned in the YRT thread. In an effort to improve travel time, Viva Purple and Viva Green should use the new alignment of Enterprise Drive and Unionville Gate to Kennedy Road, instead of diving south, diverting to the YMCA via Rivis Road. This would involve a new vivastation located at Rivis & Enterprise. Viva Pink will keep its current alignment. ------ I have e-mailed the region about these suggested route changes. Waiting for their reply...

I just thought I can put this up here... I was experimenting with Adobe Illustrator CS4 the other day and thought I could make a transit system map (for one of my imaginary cities, information about this city here) that resembles YRT/Viva new system maps... So comment if you wish to... Thanks for everyone who attempted my GO integration question I was travelling from Downsview Station to the Unionville area. So I got a 50 cent Ride to GO ticket from the Viva machine in Downsview Station, then when I get to York U, I paid the full GO bus fare which was $4.80, then I used the Ride to GO ticket along with my full GO bus fare ticket when transferring to a YRT bus at Unionville Station. I could not attach the file for some reason. So here's the attachment link for my transit map if you want to take a look at it: Attachment Link - Donsley GRT Map.pdf (350 kB)

I have a question about Ride to GO actually... say I'm taking Viva Orange from Downsview Stn to York U... and decide to transfer to one of the GO Transit buses... then get off somewhere else and transfer to a YRT bus... how does the fare work?? I never really tried the "Ride to GO" fare policy... I tried once... transferring from a YRT route to a GO route... but the bus driver had no idea what I was talking about "the ride to GO fare" and they didn't let me add 50 cents... they insisted I should buy a ticket... Usually I transfer from GO transit and then to a YRT bus... then I just add 50 cents showing my GO Transit ticket... Here's how I speculate it how it will work: 1) Pay the YRT / Viva fare on the Viva bus 2) Then, using the ticket from the Viva bus, present it to the GO transit bus driver and add 50 cents 3) Then somehow the transfer between the GO transit and the YRT bus has to be free... or should I add 50 cents?? Just generally I don't know how this works and the YRT website doesn't explain that well... besides, I don't have a pass for GO Transit... I use single ride tickets all the time since I take the GO every once in a while...

I'm just saying punch-out cards are so redundant. For the 20 punch outs that you have there, YRT could instead sell 20 ticket packs. Besides those punch-out cards wouldn't work on Viva would they? Unless you install punching machines in vivastations...

If we're making punch-out cards, we might as well put the resources into the implementation of Presto Cards.

Sorry... Have to interrupt the ongoing discussion here... I was going to e-mail YRT about re-routing the Viva routes in Markham, but I want to discuss if this is do-able before e-mailing them... so I wanna get your opinions... Enterprise Drive (the road Viva is using right now passing through Downtown Markham) used to end at Rivis Road... so the Viva buses are forced to use Rivis Road then YMCA Boulevard to exit to Kennedy Road. Well, ever since late 2009, Enterprise Drive is now connected with Unionville Gate, and directly connects to Kennedy Road... I was wondering if the Viva buses could utilize this new Enterprise Drive alignment, instead of diving south on Rivis, then back north on Kennedy. It'll save some travelling time... I think that bump right now is unnecessary... This way, I shall also propose an extra vivastation, pending named Rivis, be constructed at the current intersection of Rivis and Enterprise. So I was going to propose that Viva Purple and Viva Green will both route via Enterprise Drive through Unionville Gate to Kennedy Road, servicing Rivis Vivastation, but Viva Pink will keep its current alignment, servicing Rivis Road and YMCA Boulevard (Enterprise Vivastation). Or alternatively, relocate Enterprise Vivastation to Rivis and Enterprise. All 3 Viva routes will serve this stop. The only concern is... Viva Purple and Viva Green riders might have to walk a longer distance from the Unionville YMCA facility and Unionville GO Station. After checking with Google Maps, the relocation of Enterprise Vivastation (or creation of a new Vivastation) will result in a 2 minute walk (as opposed to ~ 45 seconds right now) from the YMCA facility, and a 5 minute walk (as opposed to 3 minutes right now) from Unionville GO Station. The relocation will still keep the walking distance from both destinations below 500 m (as per YRT's standards) So what do all of you think? Shall this relocation be valid?

I kept all the maps since January 2004... Frankly, I like the newer ones better... But I can't wait to see the newer maps!

Do any of you know when will they release the new system map? i.e. the Spring version... It's supposed to have like a larger font this time, like a new design, so I can't wait for the new one...

Yea... tried the phone version just now... The web version is still more amusing Does anyone know what is the "Puzzled? Put the pieces together" thing about on YRT's homepage?