[APTA-2048]

Viva is officially 20 years old today. I think about when it was launched how ambitious it was. We got our Rapidways, but we got a bit of a slow erosion of service.

 

[reaperexpress]

Viva is officially 20 years old today. I think about when it was launched how ambitious it was. We got our Rapidways, but we got a bit of a slow erosion of service.

I remember when it launched, and it was really impressive at the time. It was so much faster and nicer than typical transit service that many people were surprised that you didn't need to pay an extra fare.

Nowadays Viva buses are not remarkable but at the time YRT was still using mostly hand-me-down high-floor buses from the predecessor agencies. For many of us in York Region, Viva was our first experience with automated stop announcements, low-floor kneeling buses, next stop displays, information screens and wifi (though it rarely worked). Now most of things are not only standard, but also legally required. But it wasn't that long ago that you had to struggle to get a stroller on a bus, and when it was dark and rainy it was hard to tell where you are.

 

[cplchanb]

I also wonder if Metrolinx will finish upgrades to the Stouffville Corridor in time for better than hourly two-way service -- particularly the Highland Creek bridge. That's the only transit that's going to be viable. I suspect attendees will be encouraged to park at Mount Joy and Centennial stations and take the train in. (Not a lot of parking at Markham).

Though the claim is that the new location puts the event closer to its fans, I'm not at all convinced. It's farther from the more populated West GTA and Hamilton, and transit access is much poorer. But it will have the cars racing past a Honda dealership on Kennedy Road.

they can probably

I remember when it launched, and it was really impressive at the time. It was so much faster and nicer than typical transit service that many people were surprised that you didn't need to pay an extra fare.

Nowadays Viva buses are not remarkable but at the time YRT was still using mostly hand-me-down high-floor buses from the predecessor agencies. Viva was many of our first experience with automated stop announcements, low-floor kneeling buses, next stop displays, information screens and wifi (though it rarely worked). Now most of things are not only standard, but also legally required. But it wasn't that long ago that you had to struggle to get a stroller on a bus, and when it was dark and rainy it was hard to tell where you are.

You have to give it to viva that they pioneered alot of the tech that we now take for granted in the gta. Right now they are the first in the gta to use E-ink for the next stop displays at the stations. Wonder how far that will go.

 

[Sandpit]

Viva is officially 20 years old today. I think about when it was launched how ambitious it was. We got our Rapidways, but we got a bit of a slow erosion of service.

I remember them making a point of not calling them buses in their promotional literature: "They're so advanced, we call them RTVs - Rapid Transit Vehicles". This was quietly dropped once they realized literally no one else called them that.

 

[Bordercollie]

I remember them making a point of not calling them buses in their promotional literature: "They're so advanced, we call them RTVs - Rapid Transit Vehicles". This was quietly dropped once they realized literally no one else called them that.

But it's slower than the non BRT service that runs in parallel. So how does that make sense?

 

[T3G]

But it's slower than the non BRT service that runs in parallel. So how does that make sense?

Marketing is not based on making sense, but about what kind of BS you can sell to people with no imagination or curiosity about the world.

 

[ShonTron]

Marketing is not based on making sense, but about what kind of BS you can sell to people with no imagination or curiosity about the world.

Back in 1980, Brampton Transit, a tiny system that was only just amalgamated from the old privately operated town Brampton Transit and Bramalea Dial A Bus, called it “the world’s first above ground subway.”

That didn’t last long either.

 

[APTA-2048]

I remember when it launched, and it was really impressive at the time. It was so much faster and nicer than typical transit service that many people were surprised that you didn't need to pay an extra fare.

Nowadays Viva buses are not remarkable but at the time YRT was still using mostly hand-me-down high-floor buses from the predecessor agencies. Viva was many of our first experience with automated stop announcements, low-floor kneeling buses, next stop displays, information screens and wifi (though it rarely worked). Now most of things are not only standard, but also legally required. But it wasn't that long ago that you had to struggle to get a stroller on a bus, and when it was dark and rainy it was hard to tell where you are.

In a way, I kind of miss the uniqueness of Viva. It’s become less unique with wider adoption of those features elsewhere, but also with less higher specifications. I think the Van Hool buses are really comfortable, and I’m happy to see a bunch of them still in service 20 years later.

 

[T3G]

In a way, I kind of miss the uniqueness of Viva. It’s become less unique with wider adoption of those features elsewhere, but also with less higher specifications. I think the Van Hool buses are really comfortable, and I’m happy to see a bunch of them still in service 20 years later.

The Van Hools are wonderful, even after all this time riding one is like riding a cloud.

 

[Bordercollie]

The Van Hools are wonderful, even after all this time riding one is like riding a cloud.

Just don't sit in the back or your butt will catch fire.

 

[chrisw]

Budget 2026 York Region

Both overall YRT ridership and ridership per capita have been on the rise since 2021, with total ridership in 2024 about 6% higher than budgeted. Ridership by mid-2025 was 4% higher than budgeted.

The budget for 2026 is based on the following assumptions:
• Ridership will grow by 2% in 2026, compared to forecast actual ridership for 2025
• Service hours will increase by 4%
• Fares will increase by 3% on July 1, 2026, consistent with the outlook endorsed as part of the 2025 budget approval

For 2026, the total gross budget will increase to $344.0 million, a rise of 5.1%, in line with higher expected ridership.

Transit revenues are forecast to increase by $9.7 million in 2026 to $98.2 million, due to expected higher transit ridership numbers of 25.4 million and a 3% fare increase.

The proposed net tax levy budget for 2026 is $6.5 million lower than the previous year’ s outlook, owing mainly to higher ridership.

In 2024, YRT carried out its first customer satisfaction survey since before 2020 and is using the findings to help prioritize budget allocations. More frequent service was the single most important priority, cited by about one-third of riders. As a result, YRT is focused on increasing service frequencies on high demand corridors to key destinations such as those serving subway stations and commercial nodes, as well as north-south routes where the One Fare program is driving cross-boundary ridership growth into Toronto.

Survey results will also inform work on YRT’s updated Five-Year Business Plan, to cover the years 2026 to 2030. This work is underway and will be shared with Regional Council in 2026. Annual service plans informed by the Business Plan and public engagement will continue to support ridership growth.

 

[stevensontransit]

Budget 2026 York Region

Both overall YRT ridership and ridership per capita have been on the rise since 2021, with total ridership in 2024 about 6% higher than budgeted. Ridership by mid-2025 was 4% higher than budgeted.

The budget for 2026 is based on the following assumptions:
• Ridership will grow by 2% in 2026, compared to forecast actual ridership for 2025
• Service hours will increase by 4%
• Fares will increase by 3% on July 1, 2026, consistent with the outlook endorsed as part of the 2025 budget approval

For 2026, the total gross budget will increase to $344.0 million, a rise of 5.1%, in line with higher expected ridership.

The proposed net tax levy budget for 2026 is $6.5 million lower than the previous year’ s outlook, owing mainly to higher ridership.

View attachment 691129

In 2024, YRT carried out its first customer satisfaction survey since before 2020 and is using the findings to help prioritize budget allocations. More frequent service was the single most important priority, cited by about one-third of riders. As a result, YRT is focused on increasing service frequencies on high demand corridors to key destinations such as those serving subway stations and commercial nodes, as well as north-south routes where the One Fare program is driving cross-boundary ridership growth into Toronto.

Survey results will also inform work on YRT’s updated Five-Year Business Plan, to cover the years 2026 to 2030. This work is underway and will be shared with Regional Council in 2026. Annual service plans informed by the Business Plan and public engagement will continue to support ridership growth.

its good to see them increasing service levels in the next budget

 

[Northern Light]

@chrisw

Good post.

I find the level of service increase disappointing.

Certainly, as @stevensontransit notes, and increase is better than flat or a reduction....

But as YRT has among the most inadequate funding and service of the major GTA systems..........I would really liked to have seen something close to 5% or even 6%

They won't fulfill their 5-year plan with 3% increases.

 

[stevensontransit]

@chrisw

Good post.

I find the level of service increase disappointing.

Certainly, as @stevensontransit notes, and increase is better than flat or a reduction....

But as YRT has among the most inadequate funding and service of the major GTA systems..........I would really liked to have seen something close to 5% or even 6%

They won't fulfill their 5-year plan with 3% increases.

Yes and they also need wider span of services 7 days a week on major routes and it’s good to see the one fare program with the potential extension beyond March 31, 2026 in the budget and their advocacy to extend it.

 

[chrisw]

Hopefully there will be an comprehensive 5 year plan paired with a boost in funding to implement it. Also, York Region operates on a four-year budget cycle, so the 2027 Budget will be especially important, setting the direction and framework for the years ahead.

Despite a strong rebound in transit ridership that saw growth of 12% in 2024, the department will increase transit service hours by 4% in 2026, less than originally planned, in an effort to manage costs.

In the proposed 2026 Annual Transit Plan, service increases of about 73,000 hours (or 5%) were planned. So seeing only a 4% increase now is a bit disappointing, since it means not all of the initiatives from that plan will be able to move ahead.

Risks to operating budget: Transit ridership - For the past two years, ridership gains have been greater than forecast. If that proves to be the case again in 2026, budgeting for 4% more service hours may not be enough to maintain the expected level of service. In the event ridership growth outpaced service hours, the department would take measures to ensure adequate levels of service were maintained in key corridors. Conversely, if ridership were below forecast, revenues would come in below projection.

This part is a bit more encouraging. There's some flexibility to add service hours beyond the budgeted amount if ridership grows more than expected.

Budgets

Every year, York Regional Council approves the capital budget and operating budget for the next year.The operating and capital budgets outline how York Region will use its finances to deliver essential services to residents. York Region budgets to reach short and long term goals while aligning...

www.york.ca

You can check out the Tabled Budget here.