Normally, I don't care that much about what they're planning outside of Peel Region, but I was curious, and I wasn't prepared to handle what I saw... I was extremely surprised about what's going on to my neighbours to the east!!!
First of all, about Viva Orange...
What a joke.
Viva Orange going down to 42 minutes??? A BRT route running every 42 minutes!!?!?!? I have always thought Mississauga provides the worst express service among the 905. But wow, seeing this, I think I'm just seeing Blue and Purple. That's even less frequent than 110 between UTM and Clarkson running every 34 minutes... but the section north of UTM is double the frequency. And 109's counter-peak running every 38 minutes... which will boost to 17 minutes come Monday.
Also, Viva Orange stopping at Pine Valley? What about those people connecting from Martin Grove and Islington? I think they should just contract out the services to Brampton Transit. Apparently, Even with the 501/501A split during weekends, the 501, running every 30 minutes, is still more frequent than the proposed Viva Orange.
The Viva map? Let's see.
Viva Orange:
- The current form of Viva Orange should be contracted out to Brampton Transit to handle people going to the Spadina Line.
- If they are pondering the Viva Orange to mirror the 77 all the way to Finch, then do the diversion RIGHT NOW! Also, it should be extended to The Gore Road temporarily until they build a permanent terminal. Once the Yonge North Subway Extension opens, they can simply cut this route. That handles the Yonge Line.
- The new Orange should be running every 15 minutes peak, 20 minutes midday and early evening, 30 minutes late evening and weekends. Basically mirroring 501's frequency. So Highway 7 west of VMC will have buses every 7.5 minutes peak, 10 minutes midday and early evening, 15 minutes weekends and late evenings.
Viva Purple:
- retain its current form before the subway opening.
- after the subway opening, it should go between Markham-Stouffville to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, not end at Richmond Hill.
- Viva Purple can leave Unionville entirely and serve as a bypass to a 7-day Viva Pink, just like what 103 and 502 do around Square One along Hurontario.
Viva Pink:
- If they retain this as rush hour-only service, I think Purple should still serve Unionville during off-peak and weekends. Otherwise, let it run 7 days a week and Purple takes the role of the bypass.
Viva Green:
- A route through the industrial area seems to not work in Markham. Students from Seneca might complain, but I think the 25 itself does not divert to serve the college, so why should Viva Green if it were to be diverted to run along Leslie...
- Worried about the performance of this route, may end up being a 5-day route only... Or 6-day at most. Or considering the fate of the current Viva Green, may end up with the same service span. Maybe boost 90's Sunday service to rack up ridership?
- The terminus at York General Hospital is just fine with me.
Viva Yellow:
- What's the purpose of serving the Eagle Vivastation if both Blue and Yellow can meet at Newmarket Terminal? Should the Yellow loop there instead of wasting time serving Eagle? After all, Blue is frequent enough.
- Also worried about the Sunday performance of this route, better boost the local counterpart's (apparently 55) Sunday service first, then I'll accept 7-day service.
Viva Silver:
- Will be very busy come summertime and spring/fall weekends! And maybe through the fall for the Christmas shopping season!
- Other than that, oh well... let's see!
- The terminus at Richmond Hill GO Station is reasonable, if and only if the all-day train service comes...
Viva Blue:
- Viva Viva Blue! (Long live Viva Blue!) Deservingly so because it seems to be successful.