If negotiations go according to plan, passengers who take the Viva Orange route on York Region Transit (YRT) could be shuttling down the TTC’s express route as early as this coming spring.
The agreement signed by the YRT and TTC will let Viva buses ferry passengers between York University’s Keele campus and Downsview station and will hopefully free up space on the often-crowded TTC “Rocket” buses.
Though the express route was specifically meant for TTC vehicles, an August pilot program that saw Viva buses use the lane resulted in increased ridership. Viva has shuttled over 38,000 commuters down the route since then.
The $38-million, six-kilometre bus lane – paid for by the city of Toronto, the province and by Ottawa – was designed to shuttle TTC passengers more quickly to and from Keele campus and Downsview station until the 2015 subway extension launches.
The express route cut the usual 20-minute TTC bus ride by approximately four minutes. Though the Viva Orange bus shuttles between the same two destinations, it usually travels in regular traffic, so it takes longer.
Compiled by News Department
Viva shortcut via express lane coming
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