York Region Rapid Transit Viva

The York Region Rapid Transit Viva is the first rapid transit system of its kind in the Greater Toronto area. The project was awarded through a custom-developed, design-build contract negotiated between the joint venture led by Kiewit and York Region Rapid Transit Corporation.

The first phase of the program, Quick Start, was launched in September 2005 and consisted of six routes covering more than 100 kilometers of roadway. Safety of the traveling public and workers was a priority during construction as the buses traveled over some of the most congested streets in the York Region.

The design-build team developed innovative design solutions to meet the project's technological challenges, including real-time electronic bus arrival displays, transit signal priority to adjust signal timing for buses behind schedule and a computer-aided dispatch transit control center with GPS. Heritage versions of the shelters and fare equipment were designed to preserve the integrity of historic districts. Phase I of the first rapid transit system had to be designed, procured, tested, commissioned and integrated with existing transit components in less than 18 months. The project was awarded the 2006 Design-Build Excellence award (transportation over $50 million) by the Design-Build Institute of America and the Public Works Project for 2006 award (transportation over $10 million) by the Ontario Public Works Association.