Compiled by Pete Coulman

February 26, 1966

Service begins on a new route operating over Scarlett Road, replacing the southern portion of the 93 WOODBRIDGE. It operates Mondays through Saturdays only, with no Sunday or holiday service. Buses start at Runnymede and Dundas, looping via east on St. John's Road, north on Fiskin and west on Dundas and then operating via north on Runnymede, west on Henrietta, north on Rockcliffe Blvd, west on Pritchard Avenue, north on Jane Street, west on Foxwell Street, north on Scarlett Road to Lawrence, then east on Lawrence to loop via Weston Rd, John Street and South Station to Lawrence and return.

May 11, 1968

Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Islington, service is extended south from Dundas along Runnymede to loop through Runnymede station, then south via Kennedy and west on Bloor to Runnymede.

A 79 SCARLETT ROAD transfer for Friday, November 22, 1985.

February 7, 1971

Sunday service is added to this route with buses operating every 25 minutes between Runnymede station and Lawrence and Weston.

Mid 1980s

The use of all-black rollsigns transforms the destination sign as follows:

February 18, 1996

As part of a series of system-wide system cuts resulting from the elimination of provincial subsidies for public transportation, all service after 10 p.m., seven days a week, is eliminated and with the closure of Lansdowne Garage, all service is reassigned to Wilson Garage.

October 6, 1996

Late-evening service is restored with buses operating hourly.

March 30, 1997

Service is rendered accessible through the use of Orion V CNG lift-equipped buses.

June 1998

Service is extended south of Bloor Street daytimes during weekends, replacing a portion of 71 RUNNYMEDE. Buses operate continue south from Runnymede station, following the route of 71 RUNNYMEDE to the Queensway, returning to Runnymede station and continuing north to Weston and Lawrence.

October 1999

The looping at the north end is revised to provide additional connections (to 35 JANE and 32 EGLINTON WEST). Buses operate over the old route to Weston Road and Lawrence and continue east on Lawrence to Jane and then loop via south on Jane, west on Wright Avenue and north on Pine Street to Lawrence, returning via the reverse route. There is no change in service levels.

February 14, 2000

Service begins on a new rush-hour branch providing service along St. Clair Avenue. During the morning rush hour, every second northbound bus operates from Runnymede station via north on Runnymede, west on St. Clair and north on Scarlet Road, reconnecting to the regular route at Foxwell Street and continuing to Jane and Lawrence. During the afternoon rush hour, every second southbound bus reverses this arrangement. There is no change of service levels in the common areas of the route, nor departure times from the terminals.

January 6, 2001

Last day of weekend service south of Bloor. The next day (a Sunday) the service is renamed and renumbered 77 SWANSEA. This service is interlined with 79 SCARLETT ROAD on weekends.

September 7, 2004

Peak service on St. Clair Avenue is adjusted. Now, alternate buses in both directions travel via St. Clair, mornings and afternoons. There is no change to combined service levels or most departure times.

February 13, 2005

Orion VII low-floor buses are dispatched out of Arrow Road Garage replacing the Orion V CNG buses supplied by Wilson Garage.

November 23, 2008

As part of the TTC's Ridership Growth Strategy, service levels on the main branch are increased to operate at intervals of 30 minutes or better whenever the subway is open. This change does not affect the 79B "via St. Clair" branch, which remains rush hours only.

Also on this date, bus operations are moved to the newly opened Mount Dennis Garage.

March 28, 2010

Interlining with 77 SWANSEA is eliminated.

March 30, 2014

Weekday midday and evening, as well as weekend and holiday daytime service, is added to the 79B "via St. Clair" branch, alternating with the main branch.

June 22, 2014

As part of a system-wide reorganization of route branch designations, all northbound buses to Jane via Pritchard and Foxwell are designated 79A.

September 6, 2015

Weekday late evening and Saturday early evening service is added to the 79B "Runnymede Station-Lawrence via St Clair" branch. Buses will operate every 25 to 30 minutes on either the 79B or 79A branches, with 12-15 minute service on the combined portion of the route.

October 13, 2019

Due to the closure of Runnymede station's bus terminal during the elevator installation, southbound buses loop via Annette Street, High Park Avenue, and Bloor Street West. Passengers are dropped off at High Park station with Runnymede station used for pick up only.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

With two platforms at Runnymede station re-opened during the second phase of construction work at the station, the temporary detour of 79 SCARLETT ROAD buses to High Park station ends, and service returns to what it was in September 2019.

79 Scarlett Road Image Archive

	TTC GM "New Look bus #7184 heads westbound on Lawrence Avenue West, crossing Weston Road in 79 SCARLETT ROAD service. This photo was taken circa June 1971 by Richard Glaze.
	The outside of an official TTC timetable describing 79 SCARLETT ROAD operations, effective January 5, 1976.
	The inside of an official TTC timetable describing 79 SCARLETT ROAD operations, effective January 5, 1976.
	TTC GM New Look #7177 rests at Lansdowne Garage, bearing a 79 SCARLETT ROAD sign in this January 1981 shot. The photo is originally from the Bill Hood collection and was donated by Pete Coulman.
	In 1982, photographer Keith Littlewood caught TTC GM "New Look" bus #8534 travelling west on Bloor, crossing Dundas Street, bearing a 79 SCARLETT ROAD rollsign. The bus was likely entering service. The photo is from the Pete Coulman collection.
	An official TTC map of 79 SCARLETT ROAD operations, effective May 1, 2013.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" hybrid bus #1630 crosses Ralph Street eastbound on Lawrence in service on 79 SCARLETT ROAD. Wheel Trans bus W-244 is also in the picture. This photo was taken on July 10, 2013 by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" Hybrid bus #1531 crosses Weston Road eastbound on Lawrence in 79B SCARLETT ROAD service. This photograph was snapped on the morning of April 25, 2017 by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #1395 lays over at Runnymede station in service on 79 SCARLETT ROAD on September 15, 2017. Photo by Marcus Danchuk.

Ridership Counts