Going to the VMC?

Sept. 27, 2022 10:00 a.m.
​On-street parking, commuter lots, public transit and more are available in Vaughan’s downtown core


Are you driving to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) but aren’t sure where to park? Or maybe you’re thinking of taking public transit but don’t know the routes. Either way – there are many options to commute to and from Vaughan’s downtown core! Paid on-street parking, temporary lots, commuter lots, pick-up and drop-off areas, and an award-winning transit system are all at your disposal. 

Located in the heart of the city –northeast of Highways 400 and 407 – the VMC is envisioned to be a complete community that provides residents, businesses and visitors with amenities of an urban lifestyle: multi-use office towers, residences, access to rapid transit, open green space, urban squares, pedestrian shopping areas, restaurants, walking and cycling paths, and more. 

Just like any urban area, substantial parking and transit connections are required – and the City of Vaughan is committed to creating an even more seamless experience to help you travel in, to, out of and around the VMC by offering a variety of options that can help you navigate the downtown core with easier commutes, easier pick-up and drop-off and easier visitor parking. 

Driving to the VMC? Here’s where you can park:

  • Commuter lots: Commuters using public transit are encouraged to park in the designated TTC commuter lots. 1,881 spaces are available at the Pioneer Village Station and 550 parking spots are available at Highway 407 Station.
  • Passenger pick-up and drop-off areas: If you’re picking up or dropping off someone from the subway, no need to park. Separate areas are available at Pioneer Village Station, Highway 407 Station and VMC Station.
  • Temporary parking lots: Currently, three other paid parking lots are available north of Apple Mill Road, south of Apple Mill Road (east of Millway Avenue) and south of New Park Place. These temporary parking lots are available for all-day use.
  • On-street parking: A paid on-street parking pilot is currently running in the VMC. Short-term on-street parking is available on both sides of Apple Mill Road, Buttermill Avenue and New Park Place. Vehicles can park up for to three hours at a time. 

On-street parking is a new option made available through the VMC Parking Strategy, which aims to identify immediate, short- and long-term parking solutions in Vaughan’s downtown. Payment is managed through ParkedIn’s pay-by-licence-plate meter technology – a mobile payment platform by Precise ParkLink that allows users to scan, pay and proceed to their destination securely, quickly and easily. Visitors pay for parking by downloading the mobile app and using the Scan-to-Pay option available at the parking facility. Since the launch of the pilot in October 2021, more than 18,700 parking permits have been purchased. 

This parking pilot allows the City to offer additional parking options in and around the area and facilitate even safer driver and pedestrian journeys. Whether citizens are visiting the VMC for work, appointments, entertainment or to see family and friends, on-street parking will offer a seamless travel experience from start to finish. Once the pilot is over, the City will consider permanent implementation of the pilot, especially if on-street parking demand continue trending in the same direction.   

Additional parking solutions continue to be sourced. Learn more at myVMC.ca/parking. 

Taking public transit instead? The VMC has an award-winning intermodal transit system, which includes:

  • Subway: Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Subway Station is the new northwestern terminus of the TTC’s Line 1. It is only a quick five-minute ride to York University Station and a 45-minute ride to Union Station.
  • Bus Rapid Transit: The Viva/Zum Bus Rapidway serves the Viva (York Region) and Zum (Brampton) transit systems. The VMC Viva station has an underground pathway that connects to the VMC Subway Station and SmartVMC Bus Terminal. Routes include Viva orange and the 501 Zum Queen.
  • Local transit: Local bus service by York Region Transit operates from the SmartVMC Bus Terminal. It is connected above and below ground to the VMC Subway Station and VMC Viva station. Routes include 10-Woodbridge, 20-Jane, 26-Maple and the Mobility on Request Transfer Point. 

To start planning your trip, visit yrt.ca/TripPlanner. 

Rather be active? Explore the bike lanes and bike boxes already on Highway 7, Millway Avenue and Apple Mill Road. Further active transportation opportunities will be made available as the VMC continues to grow. 

Learn more about commuting in the VMC at myvmc.ca/transportation. 

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