Metrolinx and York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) have selected EDCO as the preferred proponent for the York Viva Bus Rapid Transit (vivaNext) rapidways project in Vaughan and Markham, Canada.

EDCO is a joint venture of EllisDon Capital Inc. and Coco Paving Inc., supported by a Design-Build joint venture of EllisDon Civil Ltd. and Coco Paving Inc., and a Design Team of IBI Group, LEA Consulting Ltd., WSP Canada Inc. and Peto MacCallum Ltd. The team beat out competition from two other shortlisted consortium, m7 Transit Partners and York RapidLINK Constructors.

The preferred bidder will have to design, build and finance the dedicated York Viva Bus Rapid Transit rapidways along the Highway 7 transit corridor in the City of Vaughan and Town of Richmond Hill.

Over the coming months, YRRTC and Metrolinx will negotiate final contract details with EDCO. The cost of the project, design details and expected construction schedule will be announced following commercial and financial close in September, signalling the contract has been awarded and signed. Infrastructure Ontario is acting as procurement advisor for the project.

EDCO will deliver the vivaNext segments, including approximately 12 kilometres of rapidways, 10 new vivastations, bridge widenings, culvert extensions and enhanced boulevards, along the existing Highway 7 transit corridor. The first segment will extend from Helen Street to Interchange Way/Edgeley Boulevard, and the second segment from Bowes Road to Yonge Street via the existing Centre Street and Bathurst Street route. VivaNext rapidways are being built along 34 kilometres of key York Region corridors and will include a total of 38 new vivastations.

This initiative is part of the York Viva BRT project which represents a CAD$1.4 billion transit investment from the Government of Ontario, and is part of Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan, a 25-year plan for an integrated and sustainable transit and transportation system in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).