Starting tomorrow, Sunday, February 26, York Region Transit opens the new Keele and Creditstone vivastations on the first section of the Highway 7 West rapidway.

It’s revising two routes so that buses operate on the rapidway — bus-only lanes in the centre of the roadway.

East- and westbound buses operating along the 77 Highway 7 route drop off or pick up passengers at both vivastations. Eastbound buses operating along the Viva purple route also serve both stations. Westbound Viva buses continue to serve the curbside vivastation on Keele Street south of Highway 7.

Cross at the signals at each intersection to use the rapidway stations in the centre of the roadway and then walk onto the platform ramp. Board or exit from the buses on the platform.

If you’re traveling aboard regular YRT buses along the 77 Highway 7 route, continue paying at the farebox on the bus. If you’re traveling aboard Viva buses along the Viva purple route, buy or validate your fare at the fare machines on the platform.

Metrolinx and York Region contractors continue working to finish this section of the rapidway, in time for the TTC to open its subway extension to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre later this year.

At that terminal subway station, YRT / Viva will also open another new vivastation, where passengers can descend by elevator, escalator or stairs to connect with TTC trains operating Line 1, or transfer to other YRT services at the “Smart Centres Bus Terminal”, north of the station.

The two partners are also getting ready to extend the rapidway further west to Helen Avenue (west of Pine Valley Drive) and east to Yonge Street and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. They’re planning to open those sections of rapidway in December 2019.