Compiled by Pete Coulman
With assistance by Mike Vainchtein

September 6, 1925

Service begins on a new route operating from Bloor Street via north on Runnymede Road and west on Annette Street to Jane Street, wyeing at both ends. Service replaces the old 1 HIGH PARK-ANNETTE service. Assigned route #5, it is operated out of Howard Park Garage.

Note that HIGH PARK-ANNETTE is a direct descendant of 1 HUMBERSIDE, which was the first bus route in the TTC network. After ROSEDALE, RUNNYMEDE is the second oldest continuously operated bus route on the TTC network.

5	RUNNYMEDE	BLOOR		5	RUNNYMEDE	JANE
7 days a week, 18 hours a day (Sign Assumed)

November 29, 1925

Service rerouted to operate from a wye at Runnymede and Bloor via north on Runnymede and east on Annette looping clockwise via north on High Park Avenue, east on Dundas Street, south on Keele Street, returning via west on Annette. Service on Annette west of Runnymede replaced by the new JANE bus.

September 14, 1929

The wye at Runnymede and Bloor is replaced by an on-street loop via west Bloor, north on Beresford and east on Colbeck.

RUNNYMEDE

7 days a week, 18 hours a day (Sign assumed)

September 28, 1930

Looping at Dundas altered so buses now loop via north on Mavety, east on Dundas and south on Keele to Annette.

Late October, 1930

Howard Park Garage adjoining Dundas Carhouse is closed, and all west-end bus operations are transferred to Davenport Garage.

December 21, 1930

The looping at Bloor Street via Beresford and Colbeck is discontinued. Buses now loop at Runnymede and Bloor.

RUNNYMEDE	B L O O R DUNDAS
7 days a week, 18 hours a day (Sign Assumed)

A RUNNYMEDE transfer from October 18, 1943.

October 6, 1947

Coincident with the launch of the ANNETTE trolley bus, service is rerouted off Annette. Buses run from Bloor and Runnymede via north on Runnymede, east on St. Clair and north on Keele Street and Weston Road to Keele Loop, connecting with ST CLAIR streetcars. The new route also replaces the JANE bus.

RUNNYMEDE	B L O O R ST. CLAIR
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

December 7, 1947

Service now operates from the newly opened Parkdale Garage.

July 1, 1954

Coincident with system-wide service realignments corresponding to a new fare structure for Metropolitan Toronto, RUNNYMEDE buses are extended south to connect with QUEEN cars at Lake Shore Boulevard. Buses follow the normal route from St. Clair to Bloor and continue south via Runnymede, west on Morningside, south on Windemere and west on Lake Shore to loop through off-street Windemere loop. Buses connect with MIMICO and BERRY ROAD buses.

RUNNYMEDE	ST. CLAIR LAKESHORE
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

April 15, 1956

Route assigned number 71.

RUNNYMEDE	71	ST. CLAIR LAKESHORE
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

April 15, 1957

Windemere loop is closed due to the construction of the Gardiner Expressway. Effective on this date, service is rerouted to a new temporary loop on the north-east corner of Lake Shore and Ellis Avenue. Buses access this loop via Windemere and the Queen Street extension to Ellis, looping clockwise through the loop.

July 21, 1957

Ellis loop is closed. Buses now loop through the new Windemere loop on the northwest corner of the Queensway and Windemere. Connections are lost with BERRY ROAD and MIMICO, which start using the new Humber loop on this day.

January 23, 1966

Route operation transferred to newly opened Queensway Garage.

April 1967

Route transferred to Lansdowne Garage.

May 11, 1968

Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY, the route is split at the newly-opened Runnymede stations. 71 RUNNYMEDE buses now terminate at Runnymede station, looping east through the station, then south on Kennedy, west on Bloor and north on Runnymede before continuing north to St. Clair. Service south of Runnymede station is now provided by 78 RUNNYMEDE SOUTH

RUNNYMEDE	71	S T.   C L A I R RUNNYMEDE STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

January 3, 1971

Service begins on a new branch connecting Runnymede station with the Eglinton Avenue/Weston Road intersection and the Rockcliffe-Smythe neighbourhood of the Town of York. Buses on this new branch follow the regular route to Runnymede and St. Clair and continue north on Runnymede, west on Henrietta, north on Castleton, west on Corbett, north on Rockcliffe, east on Lambton, north on Guestville and east on Eglinton to Weston Road. There, buses loop via south on Weston, southwest on Humber Blvd., west on Alliance Avenue and then south on Rockcliffe Blvd, east on Corbett, south on Castleton, east on Henrietta an south on Runnymede to Runnymede station.

This new branch operates in both Zone 1 and Zone 2. As a result, a special system of fare checks is set up outbound at St. Clair Avenue and inbound at Dundas Street.

RUNNYMEDE	71	S T.   C L A I R RUNNYMEDE STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
RUNNYMEDE	71A	E G L I N T O N RUNNYMEDE STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

February 3, 1974

Coincident with the launch of the new 48 HUMBER BLVD, the looping of the Eglinton branch is revised. Buses now operate via Rockcliffe, Lambton, Guestville and Eglinton to Weston Road and then operate via southeast on Weston Road and west on York Avenue to Guestville before returning south to Runnymede station. No change to destination signs.

November 22, 1980

At the request of Etobicoke Council, seeking a transfer-free route from the Queensway to St. Clair Avenue, the TTC eliminates 78 RUNNYMEDE SOUTH and restores 71 RUNNYMEDE buses to the Queensway. South of Runnymede station, buses operate via south on Runnymede, west on Morningside, south on Windemere and southeast on Coe Hill, looping via west on Queensway and north on Windemere to route.

RUNNYMEDE	71	S T.   C L A I R QUEENSWAY
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
RUNNYMEDE	71A	E G L I N T O N QUEENSWAY
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

July 27, 1981

Service is cut back from Keele loop at Keele and St. Clair. Widening of Weston Road in conjunction with the construction of Black Creek Drive forces the TTC to abandon Keele loop and extend the ST. CLAIR streetcar 1,100 feet west to a new loop at Maybank Avenue. Connections between RUNNYMEDE and ST. CLAIR are moved there.

A 71 RUNNYMEDE/48 HUMBER BLVD transfer, circa 1985.

March 12, 1984

Service begins on a new rush hour branch following the Eglinton branch to Eglinton and Weston Road and looping via northwest on Weston, east on Ray, east on Industry, south on Black Creek Drive and west on Eglinton. Buses then follow the Eglinton branch’s loop of southeast on Weston and west on York to route.

RUNNYMEDE	71	S T.   C L A I R QUEENSWAY
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
RUNNYMEDE	71A	E G L I N T O N QUEENSWAY
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
RUNNYMEDE	71B	INDUSTRY ST. QUEENSWAY
Monday to Friday, rush hours only

January 8, 1990

Midday service is added to the Industry Street branch. Buses now operate between 5:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All service north of St. Clair operates this way during these times, and just to Eglinton and Weston Road at other times.

March 29, 1992

Southern looping revised. During off-peak hours, 7 days a week, buses loop via Coe Hill, Queensway, South Kingsway, Ormskirk, Southport, Windermere Pl. and Windermere. Buses continue to loop via Coe Hill, Queensway, Southport, Windermere Place and Windermere during Monday-Friday rush hours when the 138 SOUTH KINGSWAY provides a direct connection between South Kingsway, Ormskirk and Jane station. No change to destination signs.

February 18, 1996

As part of a series of system-wide service cuts resulting from the elimination of the public transit subsidy by the provincial government, all service north of St. Clair ends after 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. There is no service north of St. Clair on weekends and holidays, either. This essentially eliminates the 71A “Eglinton” branch, with all buses routed to Industry Street during these hours of operation.

At the southern end, rush hour service is revised to serve South Kingsway and Ormskirk, just as in off-peak times, coincident with the elimination of 138 SOUTH KINGSWAY.

Also on this day, with the closure of Lansdowne Garage, all base service is transferred to Queensway Garage.

October 15, 2000

The route is revised at its northern end. Buses now continue on Lambton Avenue past Guestville Road to Weston Road and then loop via north on Weston, east on Ray, east on Industry, south on Black Creek, west on Eglinton and south on Weston to Lambton, following Lambton and the regular route back to Rockcliffe Boulevard. Service is removed from Guestville Road, York Street and Eglinton Avenue west of Weston.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
71	RUNNYMEDE		71	RUNNYMEDE
	TO QUEENSWAY			TO ST. CLAIR
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			71B	RUNNYMEDE
				TO INDUSTRY ST.
Monday to Friday, daytime

January 7, 2001

Service south of Runnymede station is renamed and renumbered 77 SWANSEA. 71 RUNNYMEDE service is officially cut back to Runnymede station, but service is interlined with 77 SWANSEA, allowing through service on Runnymede. This arrangement also allows for interlining between 77 SWANSEA and 79 SCARLETT ROAD.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
71	RUNNYMEDE		71	RUNNYMEDE
	TO RUNNYMEDE STN			TO ST. CLAIR
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			71B	RUNNYMEDE
				TO INDUSTRY ST.
Monday to Friday, daytime

November 23, 2008

As part of the TTC’s Ridership Growth Strategy, service is increased on the 71B branch. Buses now operate 7 days a week whenever the subway is open. Coincident with the opening of Mount Dennis Garage, where all route base is now switched, the looping around Industry Street is revised. From Runnymede station, buses operate via north on Runnymede, west on Henrietta, north on Castletone, north on Rockcliffe, east on Lambton, north on Weston Road, east on Ray , north on Industry Street to Mount Dennis garage’s north entrance. After looping clockwise around Mount Dennis garage, buses continue south and east on Industry, north on Todd Baylis Boulevard, east on Trethewey, south on Black Creek Drive, west on Eglinton, south on Weston, west on Lambton, south on Rockcliffe, south on Castleton, east on Henrietta and south on Runnymede to Runnymede station. Service remains unchanged on the St. Clair branch.

June 19, 2011

Service is rendered accessible using low floor buses. Bike rack service is also installed.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
71	RUNNYMEDE		71	RUNNYMEDE
	TO RUNNYMEDE STN			TO ST. CLAIR
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			71B	RUNNYMEDE
				TO INDUSTRY ST.
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

June 22, 2014

As part of a system-wide reorganization of route branch designations, 71 RUNNYMEDE buses bound north for St. Clair are redesignated 71A. All southbound buses to Runnymede station are designated just 71.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
71	RUNNYMEDE
	TO RUNNYMEDE STN
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			71A	RUNNYMEDE
				TO ST. CLAIR
7 days a week, 18 hours a day
			71B	RUNNYMEDE
				TO INDUSTRY ST.
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

September 4, 2016

To help improve service reliability with schedules adjusted for actual conditions, interlining with 77 SWANSEA is discontinued.

October 13, 2019

As part of the Junction Area Study, service on St. Clair to Gunns Loop is provided by the 189 STOCKYARDS bus with the 71B branch redesignated as 71. All 71 buses operate to Industry Street during all periods.

Also on this day, with closure of Runnymede station’s bus terminal during the elevator installation, buses on this route are interlined with the 77 SWANSEA just as it was during the August 2016 board albeit running at all times.

SOUTHBOUND			NORTHBOUND
71	RUNNYMEDE		71	RUNNYMEDE
	TO RUNNYMEDE STN			TO INDUSTRY ST.
7 days a week, 18 hours a day

September 6, 2020

With the completion of construction at Runnymede station, routes 71 RUNNYMEDE and 77 SWANSEA are no longer interlined and return to their previous arrangements.

March 28, 2021

Coinciding with the opening of McNicoll Garage, route is switched from Mount Dennis Garage to Queensway Garage.

October 8, 2023

Service transferred from Queensway Garage to Mount Dennis Garage.

Document Archive

• Junction Area Routing Changes Study, April 11, 2019 (PDF - 5.6 Mb)

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71 Runnymede Image Archive

	On January 6, 1947, the TTC poses brand new GMC TDH-36100996 (later called "Old Look") #996 at Hillcrest Shops, bearing a RUNNYMEDE rollsign. This image is courtesy the TTC Archives.
	On August 31, 1957, a TTC bus in service on 71 RUNNYMEDE heads south on Runnymede Road, approaching the CPR Underpass. The streetcar tracks had been laid down Runnymede from Dundas to St. Clair in the late 1920s, to link to a carhouse at St. Clair and Runnymede that never materialized. The tracks were torn up with roadwork a few years after this shot was taken. Now, nearly 60 years later, there's a possibility tracks may be laid down again for an extension of the ST. CLAIR streetcar. Photo by James Victor Salmon, courtesy the Toronto Public Library.
	TTC GM New Look bus #2994 pauses at Windermere Loop at the south end of the 71 RUNNYMEDE route in this 1961 shot by Anthony Holt. Photo courtesy the Pete Coulman collection.
	Although bearing a 71A "Eglinton" rollsign, GM New Look bus #2972 appears to be posing at Keele loop, just north of St. Clair, in this 1972 shot (note the appearance of the loop, and the trolley wire behind the bus. The photo is by P. Bateson and is from the Pete Coulman Collection.
	TTC GM TDH-4512 "Old Look" bus #1967 heads westbound on St. Clair approaching Keele in 71 RUNNYMEDE service. This photo was taken circa May 1973 by Richard Glaze.
	TTC GM TDH-4512 "Old Look" bus #1956 pulls off of Keele Street into Keele loop in service on 71 RUNNYMEDE on July 17, 1973. A ST. CLAIR streetcar can be seen in the distance, departing. Photo by Bob Hussey.
	The outside of the TTC's official timetable of 71 RUNNYMEDE operations effective February 3, 1974.
	The inside of the TTC's timetable of 71 RUNNYMEDE operations, effective February 3, 1974.
	In the summer of 1979, a PCC waits in the tailtrack of Keele loop on Keele just north of St. Clair while GM New Look bus #7186 connects in service on 71 RUNNYMEDE. The photographer is unknown, but the photograph is from the John Knight Collection.
	TTC Orion VII Hybrid Route 1031 operating on 71 RUNNYMEDE, pulls into a recently rebuilt Gunns loop on the morning of September 17, 2010. Photo by James Bow.
	An official map of the TTC's 71 RUNNYMEDE operations, effective April 1, 2013.
	Orion bus VII #1658 71 RUNNYMEDE pulls up to Weston stop at Eglinton Avenue West. Photo by Roman Fomin on June 11, 2013.
	TTC Orion VII bus #1056 lays over at Runnymede station in service on 71 RUNNYMEDE. This photo was taken by Marcus Danchuk on September 15, 2017.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #1249 lays over at Runnymede station in service on 71 RUNNYMEDE. This photo was taken on September 19, 2017 by Marcus Danchuk.
	TTC Orion VII NG hybrid bus #1226, seen at Bloor Street West turning right to Runnymede Road, operating on route 71A RUNNYMEDE. This photo was taken by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos on September 16, 2018.
	A official map of 71 RUNNYMEDE operations, effective October 13, 2019.