Compiled by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos

See Also:

• 53 STEELES EAST
• 353 STEELES NIGHT

Operations Overview

• Type: Express
• Established: January 7, 2019
• Distance: 18.66 km
• Blue Night Service: 353 STEELES NIGHT
• Types of vehicles used: Nova Bus LFS Artic, Orion VII NG Hybrid
• Bus Length: 60’ articulated low-floor
• Division: Malvern
• Ridership: N/A

This route currently operates with 2 branches:

• 953A Finch Station - Staines
• 953B Finch Station - Markham Road

January 7, 2019

As part of the TTC’s initiative of rebranding and expansion of its Express Bus Network services, service begins on the new peak-period only 953 STEELES EAST EXPRESS route, replacing two branches of the former 53E/F STEELES EAST EXPRESS. There are no changes to routing or service levels. Service operates out of Malvern Garage using Nova LFS Articulated low floor buses.

Service operates eastbound from Finch Station on the 953A branch via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, south and west on Staines Road to Morningside Avenue. Westbound morning peak buses operate from Staines Road, north on Morningside Avenue, east on Oasis Boulevard, east on Seasons Drive, north on Staines Road, west on Steeles Avenue East, south on Yonge Street, and east on Bishop Avenue to Finch Station. In the afternoon peak, it follows the same path albeit looping north and east through Bayview Loop, continuing south on Bayview Avenue, and west on Finch Avenue East to Finch Station. On the 953B branch, buses on the morning peak operate eastbound from Finch Station via west on Pemberton Avenue, north on Yonge Street, east on Steeles Avenue East, south on Tapscott Road, west on Passmore Avenue, and north on Markham Road to Steeles Avenue return westbound via reverse routing. In the afternoon peak, buses loop south on Markham Road, east on Passmore Avenue, north on Tapscott Road, and west on Select Avenue to Markham Road following through the same path as the 953A branch looping through the Bayview loop, heading south via Bayview Avenue and west through Finch Avenue East en route to Finch Station.

Buses on the 953 STEELES EAST EXPRESS stops only at Yonge Street/Steeles Avenue (also used during morning peak westbound trips), Bayview Avenue, Don Mills Road, Woodbine Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue, Pharmacy Avenue, Warden Avenue, Birchmount Road, Kennedy Road, Midland Avenue, Brimley Road and McCowan Road before making all local stops between McCowan Road and Staines Road.

This route runs during rush hours only using mostly Nova Bus LFS articulated buses operating out of Malvern garage.

June 24, 2019

Eastbound 953A (Finch Stn-Staines Express) trips that terminate at Morningside Avenue and Finch Avenue will be extended to Seasons Drive and Staines Road to complete the loop before returning to the garage. This will reduce unnecessary customer transfers at the end of service.

March 23, 2020

Due to the loss of ridership resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, service on this route is temporarily suspended, with resources diverted to maintaining service on the parallel local routes.

January 5, 2021

Express service is restored on this route, as it was before the pandemic in the February 2020 levels.

March 29, 2021

Operations of this route shifted from Malvern Garage to the newly-opened McNicoll Garage.

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Monday-Friday midday and early evening, as well as all weekend and holiday service is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19-related ridership declines and staff shortages.

Summary

953 Steeles East Express Image Archive

	TTC Novabus articulated #9093 heads northbound on Yonge towards Steeles in service on the 953 STEELES EAST EXPRESS route on the afternoon of January 4, 2023. Photo by James Bow.
	An official map of TTC's 953 STEELES EAST EXPRESS operations, effective January 7, 2019.