Compiled by Pete Coulman
See Also
September 3, 1963
Service begins on the 37 ISLINGTON bus, a bus route serving Islington Avenue, as opposed to the old village of Islington, which had been served by the 44 ISLINGTON bus, which ceased operation three days previously.
Buses operate 12 hours a day, Mondays through Saturdays (and not holidays). In the vicinity of the Islington/Queensway intersection, buses loop via east on Inverness, south on Rothsay and west on Queensway before heading north on Islington to just north of Albion Road, looping via east and south on Wardlaw Crescent and west on Barkwin Drive to Islington, returning via the reverse route. Service replaces a portion of the 80 REXDALE bus.
Since this route operates entirely within Fare Zone 2, the normal pay-enter, free-leave collection applies, with transfer privileges offered for all connecting Zone 2 routes.
Buses operate out of Parkdale Garage.
ISLINGTON | 37 | A L B I O N |
Monday to Saturday, daytime hours | ||
September 8, 1964
Weekday and Saturday evening service added.
May 25, 1965
Service extended northwest on Albion Road from Islington Avenue to Martin Grove. This service operates thirteen hours a day, Mondays to Fridays (holidays excepted). Beyond Martin Grove, buses loop via north on Silverstone Drive, east on Lexington Avenue and south on Martin Grove to Albion, returning via the reverse route. Evening and Saturday service continue to loop at Wardlaw Crescent
ISLINGTON | 37 | A L B I O N |
Monday to Friday evenings | ||
ISLINGTON | 37A | MARTIN GROVE |
Monday to Friday rush hours and midday | ||
January 23, 1966
Buses moved to the newly-opened Queensway Garage.
May 11, 1968
Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Islington, all buses now enter Islington station in both directions.
The 37A “Martin Grove” branch replaced by an extension of the 36 FINCH route.
Sunday service added between Queensway and Albion.
ISLINGTON | 37 | A L B I O N |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
April 27, 1969
Route extended south of the Queensway to Evans Avenue and west on Evans a short distance to a new off-street loop.
ISLINGTON | 37 | A L B I O N |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
September 5, 1971
Service extended north on Albion Road via Islington to a new off-street loop at Steeles Avenue, just west of Islington, replacing a service previously provided by the “Steeles” branch of the 93 WOODBRIDGE bus.
In addition, a new rush-hour short turn service established between Evans Loop and Elmhurst, looping at the north end via west on Fordwich, south on Pakenham and east on Gosfield to Islington, returning via the reverse route.
ISLINGTON | 37 | S T E E L E S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
ISLINGTON | 37A | E L M H U R S T |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
October 12, 1971
Looping of the 37A rush hour branch revised, with buses looping via west and north on Elmhurst and east on Fordwich to Islington. No changes to the destination signs.
November 26, 1972
Service on Islington Avenue south of Islington station on Bloor Street replaced by the new 38 HORNER and 15 EVANS bus routes. All ISLINGTON buses now terminate at Islington station.
ISLINGTON | 37 | S T E E L E S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
ISLINGTON | 37A | E L M H U R S T |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
February 6, 1984
Rush hour short turn service extended beyond Elmhurst to Albion Road, looping via Wardlaw Crescent and Barkwin. In addition, a new rush-hour branch established, replacing the 83 REXDALE bus. Buses on the 37C branch operate from Islington Station via north on Islington, west and south on Bergamot and west on Rexdale Boulevard to the off-street loop at Precision Road.
ISLINGTON | 37 | S T E E L E S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
ISLINGTON | 37B | ALBION RD. |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
I S L I N G T O N | 37C | PRECISION RD |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
October 15 1985
Service on the 37C “via Rexdale” branch extended to Highway 27 via west on Rexdale Blvd, looping west on Highway 27 through the new Woodbine Centre. Service provided weekdays, during the daytime and early evening, and during Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Branch redesigned 37D
ISLINGTON | 37 | S T E E L E S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
ISLINGTON | 37B | ALBION RD. |
Monday to Friday, rush hours only | ||
I S L I N G T O N | 37D | H W Y 2 7 |
Monday to Friday, daytime and early evening | ||
February 9, 1987
Night service on Islington Avenue established on the 311 ISLINGTON NIGHT bus.
September 8, 1987
Morning rush hour short turn to Albion Road (37B) discontinued.
September 3, 1989
Some runs operate out of Arrow Road Garage, the remainder of buses continue to operate out of Queensway Garage.
January 6, 1992
Service on the 37D “Highway 27” branch extended west of Woodbine Centre via west on Rexdale and north on Humberwood to an off-street loop south of Morning Star Drive. Buses continue to run through Woodbine Centre in both directions. Service provided until 10 p.m. on weekends and 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Branch redesigned 37A.
ISLINGTON | 37 | S T E E L E S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
I S L I N G T O N | 37A | HUMBERWOOD |
Monday to Friday, daytime and early evening | ||
ISLINGTON | 37B | ALBION RD. |
Monday to Friday, afternoon rush hours only | ||
November 21, 1993
New Sunday shuttle service established between Islington Avenue and Woodbine Centre via Islington, Bergamot and Rexdale. Buses operate from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Passengers are expected to transfer to 37 ISLINGTON buses at Islington and Bergamot to continue their trips to Islington station. Service had been provided earlier as required, but it becomes a regular Sunday service as of this date. Even though electronic signs were coming into use at this time, yellow mylar signs are installed on a limited number of buses; possibly the last new rollsign exposure to be installed.
Also, on or before this date, afternoon rush hour service on the old 37B branch to Albion Road is discontinued.
ISLINGTON | 37 | S T E E L E S |
7 days a week, 18 hours a day | ||
I S L I N G T O N | 37A | HUMBERWOOD |
Monday to Friday, daytime and early evening | ||
ISLINGTON | 37D | ISLINGTON |
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | ||
January 8, 1995
Hours of operation expanded to provide late-night evening and all-day Sunday service between Islington station and Humberwood via Islington, Bergamot, Rexdale and Humberwood. Service on the 37B Sunday branch discontinued, replaced by 37A buses running through to Islington station.
NORTHBOUND |
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SOUTHBOUND |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
TO STEELES |
TO ISLINGTON STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37A |
ISLINGTON |
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TO HUMBERWOOD |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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February 18, 1996
As part of system-wide service cuts resulting from the elimination of provincial subsidies for public transit, service on Rexdale Boulevard between Woodbine Centre and Humberwood eliminated after 10:00 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and all day Sundays. Frequencies reduced at all times of the week on all branches.
September 1, 1996
Monday to Saturday late evening and Sunday midday service restored between Woodbine Centre and Humberwood.
February 15, 1998
All 37A buses revised to operate via Queen’s Plate Drive and the loop in Woodbine Centre in both directions. Service on Rexdale Boulevard between the two Queen’s Plate Drive intersections is discontinued. No change to service levels.
January 1999 (Date uncertain)
Service removed from Woodbine Centre loop, in favour of through service on Rexdale Boulevard and Queen’s Plate drive. Passengers access Woodbine Centre from the street.
February 14, 2000
Sunday and holiday evening service between Woodbine Centre and Humberwood restored, operating every 30 minutes.
October 14, 2001
At the request of York Region Transit, rush hour service extended north of Steeles from the Steeles/Islington intersection via east on Steles, north on Pine Valley Drive, east on Strada, south on Trowers Road, east on Rowntree Dairy Road, looping via north on Whitmore, east on Winges to west on Rowntree Dairy Road, returning via the reverse route. Walking transfers are permitted between this service and nearly York Region Transit/Brampton Transit route 77 buses on Highway 7, as well as beaten this service and the nearly 165 WESTON ROAD NORTH buses on Weston Road.
Service designated 37D. Buses operate every 30 minutes during the morning rush hour and every 34 minutes in the afternoon rush hour.
Also on this date, buses operate on a newly designated 37C branch operating over the normal route to Islington and Steeles, and then west to an off-street loop at Steeles and Kipling. This service operates during the evenings on Sundays and Holidays. Buses had operated this service before (official date uncertain), but as extensions of the 37 branch.
NORTHBOUND |
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SOUTHBOUND |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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TO ISLINGTON STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES |
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Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day |
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37A |
ISLINGTON |
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TO HUMBERWOOD |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37C |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES & KIPLING |
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Sunday and holiday evenings |
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37D |
ISLINGTON |
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TO HIGHWAY 7 |
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Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
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May 12, 2002
At the request of York Region Transit, weekday midday service installed on the 37D “Highway 7” branch.
January 4, 2004
Service on the 37A branch altered to provide a direct connection to Woodbine Racetrack. Route is changed so that all buses, in both directions, operate into the racetrack property to a new stop closer to the casino entrance. Buses access the property via a new bus-only entrance on the south side of Rexdale Boulevard and Queen’s Plate Drive (west) intersection.
NORTHBOUND |
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SOUTHBOUND |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES |
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Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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TO ISLINGTON STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37A |
ISLINGTON |
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TO WOODBINE & HUMBERWOOD |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37C |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES & KIPLING |
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Sunday and holiday evenings |
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37D |
ISLINGTON |
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TO HIGHWAY 7 |
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Monday to Friday, rush hours only |
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November 23, 2008
All buses now operate out of Arrow Road Garage.
June 21, 2013
Last day of service on the 37D “Pine Valley” branch. After this day, all service on the 37D “Pine Valley” branch is discontinued at the request of York Region Transit.
June 22, 2014
As part of a system-wide reorganization of route branch designations, northbound buses on the 37 “Steeles” branch are redesignated 37B.
NORTHBOUND |
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SOUTHBOUND |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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TO ISLINGTON STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37A |
ISLINGTON |
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TO WOODBINE & HUMBERWOOD |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37B |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES |
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Monday to Saturday, 18 hours a day |
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37C |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES & KIPLING |
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Monday to Saturday, very late evenings (1 a.m. to 2 a.m.) |
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February 15, 2015
Service transferred from Arrow Road Garage to Queensway Garage.
February 11, 2017
Last day of operation of the 37C branch. Effective the following day, all late evening service to Steeles turns back at the Steeles/Islington loop. Passengers wishing to go on to Kipling will have to transfer to the 60 STEELES WEST bus.
NORTHBOUND |
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SOUTHBOUND |
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37 |
ISLINGTON |
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TO ISLINGTON STN |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37A |
ISLINGTON |
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TO WOODBINE & HUMBERWOOD |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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37B |
ISLINGTON |
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TO STEELES |
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7 days a week, 18 hours a day |
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September 4, 2018
Monday to Friday peak period express service on Islington Avenue established on the 937 ISLINGTON EXPRESS. No changes to routing or frequencies.
June 30, 2020
With the opening of a new bus loop built at Woodbine Racetrack as part of Woodbine’s development plan, buses on this route are rerouted to use the new loop as they run between Islington station and Humberwood. No changes to other stop locations or service levels.
37 Islington Image Archive
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TTC Flyer D-901 bus #8389 sits on Elmhurst Drive, just west of Islington Avenue on February 3, 1984, the last day of service on this branch. Photo by A.R. Gryfe. |
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The maintenance crew at Queensway Garage gather for a group photo in front of a Flyer D-700 bearing a 37 ISLINGTON exposure, circa 1973. Photo donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC Orion III Ikarus articulated bus #6392 heads north on Islington from Islington station, in service on 37 ISLINGTON. Photo donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC Orion III Ikarus articulated bus #6393 heads north on Islington station towards the newly opened Woodbine Centre in this August 1988 shot. Photo donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC New Flyer D700 bus #7508 poses at Evans Avenue loop at the south end of the 37 ISLINGTON route in this 1972 shot by Anthony Holt. Image courtesy the Pete Coulman collection. |
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TTC Flyer "FIL D-901" bus #8398 in service at Islington station on the 37 ISLINGTON route in the summer of 1983. Photo donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC GM-rebuild 8781 operating as a 37A ISLINGTON on Islington northbound approaching Dixon Road in the summer of 2001. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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An article in the April 1965 edition of TTC's Headlights advertises extensions of 37 ISLINGTON and 45 KIPLING. |
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An official TTC map of 37 ISLINGTON operations, effective June 19, 2011. |
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A scan of the front of a TTC timetable for 37 ISLINGTON, effective November 24, 1974 |
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A scan of the inner pages of a timetable for 37 ISLINGTON, effective November 24, 1974. |
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On January 5, 2012, TTC "Next Gen" Orion VII hybrid bus #1361 starts its northbound trip from Islington Subway Station to Humberwood Loop. Photo by Roman Fomin. |
