b'PROJECT PROFILEBUILDINGFORGROWTHTHE YORK VIVA BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT CONNECTS GROWING COMMUNITIESBy Sarah B. HoodAT LAST COUNT, York RegionAlso known as vivaNext, the initiative willa long-term benefit. She notes that the was the sixth-largest municipalityadd 34 kilometres in total of rapidwaysprogram includes upgraded boulevards, in Canada by population, and its still(dedicated lanes for rapid transit,streetscaping and bicycle lanes that will growing. There are four key developmentgenerally located down the centre of theimprove the public space for all users.centres: Markham, Richmond Hill,road) to connect Vaughan Metropolitan Vaughan and Newmarket, and its homeCentre, Markham Centre, Richmond HillThe program has already won a string of to 80 per cent of the regional populationCentre and Newmarket Centre. It alsoawards, from the American Public Works and some 52,000 businesses.includes numerous Vivastations, whichAssociations Project of the Year Award have a platform in each direction, like afor 2014 to the Vaughan Urban Design Over the past decade, the Regionaltrain station. Awards Award of Merit in 2017 and the 2013 Project of the Year Award from the Municipality of York, Metrolinx and YorkThe key element is connection, says LizaProfessional Engineers of Ontario.Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC)Sheppard, YRRTCs director, Bus Rapid have been working to expand the RegionsTransit Program. We are not just buildingDESIGN BUILD transit capacity through the York Viva Busrapidways. It is also about transformingFive separate design-build contracts have Rapid Transit program. and connecting communities and havingbeen awarded, one being a Design-Build-30Quarter 3 2019 BUILDERSDIGEST'