Update — November 19, 10:03 p.m.: Thanks to Transit Toronto reader Evan Leibovitch who pointed out some errors in our earlier description of the new route for buses operating along the 196 York University rocket routes.
Update — November 17, 11:19 p.m.: Frequent Transit Toronto contributor Peter Coulman wrote to let us know that, on February 2, 1959, TTC buses serving the 7G Bathurst route between Wilmington and St. Clair were the first to regularly operate along Overbrook Place. Peter reminded us that the Toronto Star reported on the same day that the mothers of the neighbourhood blocked the buses from serving their stops, fearing that buses on Overbrook would run over their children.
Peter also let us know that some 29 Dufferin buses occasionally used Overbrook to reach the nearby de Havilland plant before this and that, earlier still, the independent buses of the Danforth Bus Lines company also may have run regular service along Overbrook to carry workers to and from de Havilland.
Thanks, Peter!
The TTC is opening the new bus-only roadway between York University and Downsview Station on Friday, November 20 and revising other routes and services, starting Sunday, November 22.
The busway includes:
- new bus entrances and exits onto William R. Allen Road to and from Downsview Station;
- full-time bus-only lanes on Allen Road and Dufferin Street between the hydro right-of-way north of Finch Avenue and Downsview Station; and
- a new east-west bus-only roadway in the hydro right-of-way north of Finch Avenue between Keele and Dufferin Streets. (The TTC already opened this part on Sunday, September 6.)
The changes affect these routes: 37 Islington; 104 Faywood; 105 Dufferin North; 106 York University; 117 Alness; 192 Airport rocket; 196 York University rocket; 301 Queen overnight; 501 Queen; 511 Bathurst.
It also starts equipping all buses operating along these routes with bike racks:
Specifically, the TTC is: revising current routes; introducing new transit service; canceling current transit service; increasing service along current routes; increasing the frequency of service along current routes; decreasing the frequency of service along current routes; and adjusting the schedule of a current route.
Revising current routes
192 Airport rocket
Starting Monday, November 2, the TTC revised the route to resume service along expressways between Toronto Pearson International Aiport and Kipling Station.
Read Transit Toronto’s October 28 post for details.
117 Alness
Starting Monday, November 23, the TTC revises the route so that buses operate along the new bus-only lanes along William R. Allen Road and Dufferin Street north of Downsview Station and along part of the east-west busway north of Finch Avenue West.
Mondays to Fridays until about 3 p.m., southbound buses operate along their current route to Dufferin Street and the new east - west busway. They then proceed:
southward along Dufferin Street and William R. Allen Road, using the new bus-only lanes.
They enter Downsview Station from the new entrance off Allen Road, south of Sheppard Avenue West.
Mondays to Fridays until about 3 p.m., northbound buses operate westward out of Downsview Station onto William R. Allen Road, then proceed:
northward along Allen Road and Dufferin Street, using the new bus-only lanes;
westward along the east-west busway; and then
northward along Alness Street to Martin Ross Avenue,
resuming their current route westward along Martin Ross (Mondays to Fridays during morning rush hours) or northward along Alness (Mondays to Fridays from about 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.).Mondays to Fridays only during afternoon rush hours, southbound buses operate along their current route to Martin Ross Avenue and Alness Street, then proceed:
southward along Alness; and then
eastward along the east-west busway to Dufferin Street.Buses then operate southward along Dufferin and William R. Allen Road, but use the new bus-only lanes and enter Downsview Station from the new west entrance off Allen Road.
With this change, the TTC ends all transit service in both directions along Martin Ross Avenue between Alness and Dufferin Streets.The TTC continues to serve Martin Ross Avenue between Flint Road and Alness Street Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. Southbound buses continue to serve stops on Martin Ross east of Flint Road, at Brisbane (west) and Alness only during afternoon rush hours. Northbound buses continue to serve the stops on Martin Ross at Brisbane (west) and Flint only during morning rush hours.
Starting Monday, November 23, buses operating along the 117 Alness route no longer serve stops along Wilson Heights Boulevard between Kennard Avenue and Sheppard Avenue West and Sheppard West between Wilson Heights and Downsview Station.
Instead, buses operating along the revised 104 Faywood route serve the current southbound route 117 stops on Dufferin Street south of Finch West and at Steeprock Drive, on Wilson Heights Boulevard and Clifton and Brighton Avenues, south of Waterloo Avenue, at Cocksfield Avenue and Sheppard Avenue West and on Sheppard West at Banting Avenue. They also serve the current northbound route 117 stops on Wilson Heights north of Sheppard Avenue West and at Codsell, Waterloo, Brighton and Clifton Avenues and on Kennard Avenue at William R. Allen Road.
Since the TTC is revising this route and the 104 Faywood and 105 Dufferin North routes, starting Monday, November 23, it’s also decreasing the frequency of service to passengers traveling to and from Wilson Heights Boulevard north of Sheppard Avenue West Mondays to Fridays only during rush hours. However, at all other times of the week, the TTC increases the frequency of service along Wilson Heights.
105 Dufferin North
Starting Monday, November 23, the TTC revises the route so that buses operate along the new bus-only lanes along William R. Allen Road and Dufferin Street north of Downsview Station.
Southbound buses operate along their current route to Dufferin Street at the new east - west busway and then continue southward along the new bus-only lanes on Dufferin and Allen Road to Downsview Station. The buses use the new western entrance to the station off Allen Road.
Northbound buses reverse this routing.
Buses operating along the 105 Dufferin North route no longer serve stops along Wilson Heights Boulevard between Kennard Avenue and Sheppard Avenue West and Sheppard West between Wilson Heights and Downsview Station.
Instead, buses operating along the revised 104 Faywood route serve the current southbound route 105 stops on Dufferin Street south of Finch West and at Steeprock Drive, on Wilson Heights Boulevard and Clifton and Brighton Avenues, south of Waterloo Avenue, at Cocksfield Avenue and Sheppard Avenue West and on Sheppard West at Banting Avenue. They also serve the current northbound route 105 stops on Wilson Heights north of Sheppard Avenue West and at Codsell, Waterloo, Brighton and Clifton Avenues and on Kennard Avenue at William R. Allen Road.
Since the TTC is revising this route and the 117 Alness and 104 Faywood routes, starting Monday, November 23, it’s also decreasing the frequency of service to passengers traveling to and from Wilson Heights Boulevard north of Sheppard Avenue West Mondays to Fridays only during rush hours. However, at all other times of the week, the TTC increases the frequency of service along Wilson Heights.
104 Faywood
Starting Sunday, November 22, the TTC revises the route so that buses operate between Downsview and Wilson Stations. It also operates one more bus along the route at all times of the week.
Buses operating toward Wilson Station start their trips at Downsview Station, then proceed:
northward along the west station roadway;
eastward along Sheppard Avenue West;
northward along Wilson Heights Boulevard;
westward along Kennard Avenue;
northward along Dufferin Street;
eastward along Finch Avenue West; and then
southward along Wilmington Avenue to Overbrook Place,
resuming their current route southward along Wilmington.Buses operating toward Downsview Station reverse the route
With this change, the TTC ends all transit service along Overbrook Place for the first time since February 2, 1959. Instead, buses serve new northbound stops along Wilmington Avenue between Overbrook Place and Finch Avenue West.
Buses operating along the revised 104 Faywood route also replace the current 105 Dufferin North and 117 Alness service in both directions along Wilson Heights Boulevard between Sheppard Avenue West and Kennard Avenue.
Buses operating toward Downsview Station serve current southbound 105 Dufferin North and 117 Alness stops on Dufferin Street south of Finch West and at Steeprock Drive, on Wilson Heights Boulevard and Clifton and Brighton Avenues, south of Waterloo Avenue, at Cocksfield Avenue and Sheppard Avenue West and on Sheppard West at Banting Avenue.
Buses operating toward Wilson Station serve current 105 Dufferin North and 117 Alness stops on Wilson Heights Boulevard north of Sheppard Avenue West and at Codsell, Waterloo, Brighton and Clifton Avenues and on Kennard Avenue at William R. Allen Road.
The TTC maintains the frequency of service along the route at every 12 minutes Mondays to Fridays during rush hours, but increases the frequency at other times of the week.
With this change, the TTC decreases the frequency of service for passengers traveling to and from stops on Wilson Heights Boulevard Mondays to Fridays during rush hours from about every 10 minutes to every 12 minutes. However, it also increases the frequency for the same passengers at all other times of the week.
301 Queen overnight
501 Queen
Starting Monday, November 23, the TTC ends its trial of splitting streetcar service along Queen into two routes.
Through service resumes between Neville Park Loop and either Long Branch or Humber Loops at all times of the week.
196 York University rocket
Starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 20, the TTC reroutes the service along the entire length of the York University busway.
The new busway results in faster and more reliable service, because traffic no longer delays the buses operating along city streets. Throughout most of the week, the TTC continues to operate buses every two to three minutes between York University’s Keele Campus and Downsview Station and every six to nine minutes between York and Sheppard - Yonge Station. Mondays to Fridays after 10 p.m., buses continue to operate every 10 minutes to and from Downsview and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, buses continue to operate every 15 minutes to and from Downsview. The TTC also slightly increases the frequency of service along the route from about 7 until 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.
Although the TTC maintains the current service levels, by using the new busway, it can also reduce the number of buses it needs to provide that same level of service. It operates six fewer buses along the route Mondays to Fridays during morning rush hours and eight fewer during afternoon rush hours. It operates four fewer buses from about 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. It also operates one fewer bus along the route Saturdays, Sundays and holidays before 7 p.m. This frees up buses that the TTC can use on other routes.
The revised route also allows the TTC to decrease the time passengers need to travel along the route. Passengers can now reach Downsview Station from York University in about 15 minutes at all times of the week, instead of as long as 22 minutes during afternoon rush hours.
Because the buses operate along different routes at different times of the week, describing the revised route is complex.
Mondays to Fridays only during morning rush hours, southbound buses leave the Harry W. Arthurs Common at York University’s Keele Campus, then proceed:
southward along Ian Macdonald Boulevard;
westward along The Pond Road;
southward along Sentinel Road;
eastward along Murray Ross Parkway and the east-west busway; and then
southward along Dufferin Street and William R. Allen Road, using the new bus-only lanes,
entering Downsview Station through the new western entrance.(Some buses end their trips at Downsview Station and others continue eastward along Sheppard Avenue West to Sheppard - Yonge Station.)
During morning rush hours, southbound buses serve local stops on The Pond and Sentinel Roads and on Murray Ross Parkway as far east as the north - south busway. They then operate express to Downsview or Sheppard - Yonge Stations, stopping only at Dufferin Street at Finch Avenue West, Downsview Station and Sheppard Avenue West at Bathurst Street.
During morning rush hours, northbound buses leave Downsview Station through the new western entrance, then proceed:
northward along Allen Road and Dufferin Street, using the new bus-only lanes,
westward along the east - west busway and Murray Ross Parkway;
northward along the north - south busway; and then
westward along York Boulevard to the Harry W. Arthurs Commons,
ending their trips.Mondays to Fridays only during afternoon rush hours, southbound buses leave the Commons at York, then proceed:
eastward along York Boulevard;
southward along the north - south busway;
eastward along Murray Ross Parkway and the east-west busway; and then
southward along Dufferin Street and William R. Allen Road, using the new bus-only lanes,
entering Downsview Station through the new western entrance.(Some buses end their trips at Downsview Station and others continue eastward along Sheppard Avenue West to Sheppard - Yonge Station.)
During afternoon rush hours, southbound buses operate express to Downsview or Sheppard - Yonge Stations, stopping only at the north-south busway at Murray Ross Parkway, Dufferin Street at Finch Avenue West, Downsview Station and Sheppard Avenue West at Bathurst Street.
During afternoon rush hours, northbound buses leave Downsview Station through the new western entrance, then proceed:
northward along Allen Road and Dufferin Street, using the new bus-only lanes;
westward along the east - west busway and Murray Ross Parkway;
northward along Sentinel Road;
eastward along The Pond Road;
northward along Ian Macdonald Boulevard; and then
westward along York Boulevard into the Harry W. Arthurs Common,
ending their trips.During afternoon rush hours, northbound buses operate express between Sheppard - Yonge Station and Murray Ross Parkway at the north - south busway, stopping only at Sheppard Avenue West at Bathurst Street, Downsview Station, Dufferin Street at Finch Avenue West. They then serve new local stops along Murray Ross between the north - south busway and Sentinel Road and current local stops on Sentinel at Cook and The Pond Roads and on the Pond Road at Ian Macdonald Boulevard.
At all other times of the week, southbound buses leave the Commons at York, then proceed:
eastward along York Boulevard;
southward along the north - south busway;
eastward along Murray Ross Parkway and the east-west busway; and then
southward along Dufferin Street and William R. Allen Road, using the new bus-only lanes,
entering Downsview Station through the new western entrance.(Mondays to Fridays before 10 p.m., some buses end their trips at Downsview Station and others continue eastward along Sheppard Avenue West to Sheppard - Yonge Station. Mondays to Fridays after 10 p.m. and all day Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, all buses end their trips at Downsview Station.)
At all other times of the week, southbound buses operate express between York University and Downsview or Sheppard - Yonge Stations, , stopping only at Dufferin Street at Finch Avenue, Downsview Station and Sheppard Avenue West at Bathurst Street.
At all other times of the week, northbound buses leave Downsview Station through the new western entrance, then proceed:
northward along Allen Road and Dufferin Street, using the new bus-only lanes,
westward along the east - west busway and Murray Ross Parkway;
northward along the north - south busway; and then
westward along York Boulevard to the Harry W. Arthurs Commons,
ending their trips.At all other times of the week, buses operate express between Sheppard - Yonge Station and York University, stopping only at Sheppard Avenue West at Bathurst Street, Downsview Station, Dufferin Street at Finch Avenue West and Murray Ross Parkway at the north - south busway.
After 10 a.m. on Friday, November 20, southbound buses operating along the 196 York University rocket route no longer serve local stops on Sentinel Road south of Murray Ross Parkway and at Fountainhead Road. Buses operating along the 106 York University local route continue to serve these stops. They also no longer serve local stops on Finch Avenue West east of Sentinel, at Romfield Drive and at Keele Street. Buses operating along the 36 Finch West route continue to serve these stops.
After the end of the afternoon rush hour on Thursday, November 19, northbound buses no longer serve local stops on Finch Avenue West west of Keele Street, at Romfield Drive and Sentinel Road. Buses operating along the 36 Finch West route continue to serve these stops. They also no longer serve local stops on Sentinel opposite Fountainhead Road and at Murray Ross Parkway. Buses operating along the 106 York University local route continue to serve these stops.
Buses also no longer use the express stops on Keele Street at Finch Avenue West.
Introducing new transit service
104 Faywood
Starting Sunday, November 22, the TTC revises the route so that buses start serving new northbound stops along Wilmington Avenue between Overbrook Place and Finch Avenue West.
Buses have not operated northbound along this part of Wilmington since the TTC opened the Spadina leg of the 1 Yonge - University - Spadina subway to Wilson Station on January 28, 1978.
196 York University rocket
Starting Friday, November 20 during the afternoon rush hour, the TTC revises the route so that buses start serving new local stops along Murray Ross Parkway between Sentinel Road and the north - south busway. Mondays to Fridays during morning rush hours, buses operate eastward along Murray Ross, then continue express to Downsview and Sheppard - Yonge Stations. During afternoon rush hours, the buses operate express to Murray Ross at the north - south busway, then serve local stops westward along Murray Ross.
Canceling transit service
117 Alness
Starting Monday, November 23, the TTC revises the route and ends all transit service in both directions along Martin Ross Avenue between Alness and Dufferin Streets. Southbound buses no longer serve stops along Martin Ross at Brisbane Road (east) and Dufferin Street. Northbound buses no longer serve stops along Martin Ross west of Dufferin, at Brisbane (east) and Alness. Buses continue to serve stops along Martin Ross between Alness Street and Flint Road Mondays to Fridays only during rush hours.
104 Faywood
Starting Sunday, November 22, the TTC revises the route and ends all transit service along Overbrook Place for the first time since the late 1950s (probably 1957). Saturday, November 21 is the last day that TTC buses serve the current westbound stops along Overbrook at Shaftesbury, Honiton and Dufferin Streets, starting November 22.
Increasing service along current routes
511 Bathurst
Starting Sunday, November 22, the TTC operates streetcars along the route earlier on Sundays and holidays.
Two southbound streetcars operate toward the Exhibition (east) Loop, leaving Bathurst Station at 8:28 and 8:43 a.m. Sundays and holidays.
The last southbound bus operating along the 310 Bathurst overnight route leaves Bathurst Street and Bloor Street West (just south of Bathurst Station) at 8:13 a.m. Sundays and holidays.
Increasing the frequency of service along current routes
104 Faywood
Starting Sunday, November 22, the TTC revises the route and also increases the frequency of service at certain times of the week.
Although it continues to operate buses every 12 minutes along the route Mondays to Fridays during rush hours, it’s increasing the frequency at all other times of the week. From about 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and from 7 until 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and before 10 p.m. Saturdays, it’s increasing the frequency of service from every 15 minutes to every 14 minutes. After 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and all day Sundays and holidays, it’s increasing the frequency of service from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes.
Since the TTC is revising the routes of this route and the 105 Dufferin North and 117 Alness routes, buses serve passengers traveling to and from stops along Wilson Heights Boulevard north of Sheppard Avenue West more frequently at all times of the week except Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. From about 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and from 7 until 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and before 10 p.m. Saturdays, the TTC’s increasing the frequency of service along Wilson Heights from about every 20 minutes to every 14 minutes. After 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and all day Sundays and holidays, it’s increasing the frequency of service along Wilson Heights from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes.
However the change also means that the TTC is decreasing the frequency of service for passengers traveling to or from Wilson Heights Boulevard Mondays to Fridays only during rush hours.
106 York University local
Starting Monday, November 23, the TTC operates one more bus along the route to increase the frequency of service Mondays to Fridays during rush hours. During morning rush hours, it’s increasing the frequency from every 9 ½ minutes to every 8 minutes 15 seconds. During the afternoon rush hours it’s increasing the frequency of service from every 11½ minutes to every 9 ½ minutes.
196 York University rocket
Although the TTC continues to operate 11 buses along the route Mondays to Fridays from about 7 until 10 p.m. since the buses proceed along the new busway, it can slightly increase the frequency of service. Buses operate between York University and Downsview Station every 3 minutes 20 seconds instead of every 3 minutes 45 seconds. They operate between York and Sheppard - Yonge Station every 10 minutes instead of every 11 minutes 15 seconds.
Decreasing the frequency of service along current routes
104 Faywood
Revising this route and the 105 Dufferin North and 117 Alness routes, starting Monday, November 23, means that the TTC is decreasing the frequency of service to passengers traveling to and from Wilson Heights Boulevard north of Sheppard Avenue West Mondays to Fridays only during rush hours. It’s decreasing the rush-hour frequency from about every 10 minutes to every 12 minutes. However, at all other times of the week, the TTC increases the frequency of service along Wilson Heights.
Adjusting the schedule of a current route
37 Islington
Starting Sunday, November 23, the TTC adjusts the schedules to eliminate the extra time it added each trip earlier this year during construction along Islington Avenue. It will slightly revise the frequency of service and also changes the times of individual trips along the route.
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