Compiled by Jeffrey Kay

September 6 1983

Service begins on a new route providing service to the Alness Industrial Area along Steeles Avenue West. Buses run from Wilson station on the SPADINA SUBWAY via Transit Road, Allen Road, Dufferin, Martin Ross, Flint, Supertest, Alness and Steeles to Jane, looping via south on Jane, west on Hullmar and north on Peter Kaiser. Buses return via east on Steeles, south on Alness, east on Martin Ross, south on Dufferin, Allen and Transit. After 3 p.m., buses run north from Martin Ross via Alness and south to Martin Ross on Flint.

This route replaces a portion of the 105 WILSON HEIGHTS bus and attempts to divert traffic on Steeles Avenue onto the SPADINA SUBWAY and away from the YONGE line.

April 16, 1984

Service on Steeles between Alness and Jane discontinued due to low ridership. Buses now run from Wilson station via Transit, Allen and Dufferin, looping via west on Martin Ross, north on Flint, east on Supertest, north on Alness and east on Steeles to Dufferin. Buses reverse this loop during the afternoon rush hour.

October 15, 1984

Midday loop revised, with buses now operating via west on Martin Ross, north on Alness and east on Steeles. No change to the rush hour loop. Note that the exact date of this change is unconfirmed.

March 31, 1996

With the extension of the SPADINA SUBWAY to Downsview station, buses now run south on Dufferin and east on Sheppard to enter into the new station.

Shortly after the opening of Downsview Station.

Due to delays making the south-to-east turn at Dufferin and Sheppard, buses are rerouted to operate via south on Dufferin, east on Kennard, south on Wilson Heights and west on Sheppard to Downsview station, returning via the reverse route. The exact date of this change is unknown but it became official on July 28, 1996.

Date Unknown

Service begins on a new 117B branch, used for very early trips that run south before Downsview station opens for the day. Buses continue south from Sheppard via Allen Road and Transit Road to Wilson, to connect to the 319 WILSON NIGHT BUS and the first few southbound trains at Wilson station. In February 2007, 117B buses change their southbound exposures from “to Wilson Avenue” to “to Wilson Stn”. Northbound buses use the standard 117 exposure.

November 23, 2009

Buses rerouted off of Wilson Heights to use the new exit onto Allen Road from Downsview station and the new bus only lanes on Dufferin Street. Buses also operate along the York University Busway between Dufferin and Alness, diverting off of Murray Ross and serving one block further south on Alness. Service on Wilson Heights replaced by a rerouted 104 FAYWOOD bus.

June 20, 2010

Route is now designated accessible, using low floor buses.

June 23, 2014

As part of a system-wide reorganization of route branch designations, northbound buses operating via Flint are redesignated 117B, while service to Wilson station is redesignated 117C. All southbound buses operate showing 117 ALNESS rollsigns.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Ahead of the extension of the SPADINA SUBWAY to York University and into Vaughan, Downsview station is officially renamed Sheppard West. Destination signs have been adjusted in the days leading up to this change.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Last day of service. Coincident with the extension of the SPADINA subway into Vaughan, service is revised the next day to operate in both directions along Chesswood Road and renamed 117 ALNESS-CHESSWOOD.

117 Alness Image Archive

	A layout plan effective March 31, 1996 showing bus platform arrangements at Downsview station consisting of routes 84 SHEPPARD WEST, 105 WILSON HEIGHTS, 106 YORK UNIVERSITY, 107 KEELE NORTH, 108 DOWNSVIEW and 117 ALNESS.
	A TTC riders news for November-December 1984 describes changes to the 117 ALNESS and 34 EGLINTON EAST, while announcing the launch of the 121 NORSEMAN route. Item donated by Pete Coulman.
	A TTC map, released in 2016, shows the proposed service changes that could result from an extension of the Spadina subway into Vaughan.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" Hybrid bus #1820 pulls into its berth at Downsview station (soon to be renamed Sheppard West station) in service on 117 ALNESS around noon on April 25, 2017. Behind it, Orion VII "Next Gen" Hybrid #1672 lays over in 196 YORK UNIVERSITY ROCKET service. Photo by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" Hybrid bus #1820 turns off of Steeles and picks up passengers southbound on Dufferin in 117 ALNESS service on a rainy April 25, 2017. The destination sign has been updated ahead of Downsview station's renaming as Sheppard West. Photo by James Bow.
	Roman Fomin caught this picture of GM New Look 2348, approaching Dufferin Street along newly built busway on April 8, 2010.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #8181 lays over at Wilson station on an early-morning run of the 117 ALNESS bus. This photo was taken by John Marballa on December 11, 2017.
	A misty Monday wet spring view of TTC Orion V CNG re-build 9389 on the 117 Alness route northbound on Wilson Heights, about to turn west onto Kennard in order to get on to Allen Road. Photo by David Cavlovic.
	TTC Orion V 9389 pulls up to the stop on Allen Road at Overbrook, in service on the 117 ALNESS route. Photo by David Cavlovic.
	An official TTC map of the 117 ALNESS route, effective January 3, 2011.