The Benefits of Rapid Transit

The benefits of implementing rapid transit are far reaching, and the return on investment is considerable.

Safe, Efficient Transportation

• Rapid transit will reduce overall transit times during peak travel periods by up to 40% along some of the most congested routes

• The introduction of dedicated transitways during the second phase of the Region's plan to deliver a rapid transit network will further reduce travel times

• By enhancing connections into the City of Toronto and the Regions of Durham and Peel, rapid transit will play a key role in improving transit mobility across the GTA (see Family of Services)

• Rapid transit services will operate up to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week with vehicles arriving every 5 -15 minutes along some sections of the busiest routes

• Efficient public transit provides people without driving licences and those with disabilities to retain their independence by helping them get to shopping, work, school or other appointments.

• The risk of fatality for a transit passenger is 20 times lower than it is for a car passenger making the same trip — at a time when motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young Canadians, transit offers a safe solution

Sustainable Environment

• Transit reduces air pollution when drivers leave their cars at home (the automobile produces over 30% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions)

• Viva will make more efficient land use possible through Transit Villages to reduce urban sprawl, and take development pressure off agricultural lands and environmentally sensitive areas such as the Oak Ridges Moraine and Rouge Valley Lands

• The introduction of "clean diesel" engines has reduced pollution from buses by 90%, and new fuel cell engines will reduce emissions even further

• A single urban transit bus can take 40 vehicles off the road, save 70,000 litres of fuel, and keep nine tonnes of pollutants out of the atmosphere each year

• By making driving a car an option instead of a necessity, Viva will reduce the need for vehicle parking lots and extensive road widenings, helping to keep our municipalities green

Strong Economy

• Continued job growth depends on reduced traffic congestion

• Viva will provide an important east-west transit corridor along Highway 7 to connect major business districts in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham (where more than 75% of the Region's employment is based)

• By improving quality of life in mixed-use urban areas, transit makes it possible to work and live in the same community

• Enhanced connections will speed commuter transportation to business districts during peak travel periods

• By increasing transit ridership, with a corresponding decrease in automobile use and gridlock, the rapid transit network will generate significant savings in operating, fuel and congestion-related transportation expenses

• International studies demonstrate that cities with effective transit systems spend considerably less money on transportation than cities that prioritize roadways

• The benefits to the local economy exceed the amount invested in terms of land values, job creation, and transit-oriented development

• Joint development opportunities will play an important role as terminals and stations are incorporated into business and commercial destinations