Compiled by Jeffrey Kay; text by James Bow

Public Transit on Yonge Street

• 1796 - Yonge Street opens between Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe
• 1800 - 1880s - Stagecoach operations along Yonge Street
• 1849 - Burt Williams' horse-drawn omnibus service begins between St. Lawrence Hall and Yorkville Town Hall.
• 1861 - Yonge streetcar service within Toronto city limits (and Town of Yorkville) begins
• 1862 - Burt Williams' sells/shuts down omnibus service
• 1885 - The Metropolitan Railway (later Toronto & York) begins service on Yonge north of Toronto's City Limits, eventually reaching Lake Simcoe
• 1930 - North Yonge Railways replaces Lake Simcoe line, operates between Toronto's city limits and Richmond Hill
• 1948 - North Yonge Railways "temporarily" switches to bus operation due to power shortages.
• 1949 - North Yonge's "temporary" switch to buses becomes permanent.
• 1954 - Yonge Subway Opens between Eglinton and Union
• 1954 - DOWNTOWN bus, YONGE NIGHT bus and YONGE trolley bus start operations
• 1973 - Yonge subway extends to York Mills
• 1974 - Yonge subway extends to Finch
• 1977 - GO Transit takes over 59 NORTH YONGE bus
• 1989 - 27 DOWNTOWN and 97 YONGE merged into single route.
• 2003 - York Region Transit takes over GO Transit's Yonge 'C' Bus operations
• 2005 - York Region Transit establishes VIVA Bus Rapid Transit Service Between Finch Station and Newmarket
• 2012 - Bus rapid transit construction begins on Yonge in York Region
• 2020 - Rapidways for VIVA Blue service on Yonge open from Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie and Crosby to 19th Street in Richmond Hill, and from Savage-Sawmill to Davis Drive in Newmarket.
• 2031 - Possible opening of Yonge subway extension to Langstaff?

Reasons for the Launch

When the TTC built the Yonge subway, it replaced only a portion of the busy Yonge streetcar. The section north of Eglinton Avenue remained and the TTC gave some thought about how the remnant service should be handled. After considering a “high tech” streetcar feeder route using PCCs, the TTC decided that the route was too isolated from the rest of the streetcar network to merit a retention of streetcars, and that a conversion to trolley buses would be a better approach to take. Service on the NORTH YONGE bus, which previously terminated at Glen Echo loop at the northern city limits, would be extended south on Yonge, operating express to Eglinton Station.

One of the interesting features of this route was switches leading onto Lawrence Avenue, connecting this route to Mount Pleasant Road and the 61 NORTOWN trolley bus for emergency diversions. This stretch saw no regular service.

After the 1920s Mount Pleasant experiment, 97 YONGE became the first trolley bus in Toronto to be abandoned. On March 31, 1973, the TTC’s subway extension from Eglinton to York Mills opened. Although the TTC decided to save money by spacing the stations twice as far apart as was normal before (eliminating potential stations at Glencairn and Yonge Boulevard/Glen Echo), the TTC also decided to extend the 97 YONGE bus north, initially to Sheppard and then, in 1974, to Steeles Avenue. They did not feel that this extension could be handled by trolley buses. The trolley wires on Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue East were taken down soon thereafter. Glen Echo Loop was another casualty; this terminal serving North Toronto since the 1920s was eventually demolished and redeveloped, and bus connections moved to York Mills Station.

One of the main reasons for 97 YONGE’s existence is that, in the early 1970s, The TTC and Metropolitan Toronto decided that construction of the Yonge subway extension would proceed without “mid block” stations at Glencairn, Glen Echo and Empress, and that the parallel bus service would remain to serve passengers enroute who were a little far from the remaining stops. Since then, the route was extended south to the downtown core, providing local service to Yonge Street while the Yonge subway operated essentially as an express.

The abandonment of the Yonge trolley bus left the TTC with a number of operable but surplus trolley coaches, as well as reusable overhead wire. Rather than scrap or sell off this equipment, the TTC used it to convert the 6 BAY bus to trolley coach operation in 1976.

A Chronological History of 97 YONGE

March 7, 1954

Beginning at 1.30 a.m., gas buses replace streetcars over the north end of the YONGE route, between Eglinton and Glen Echo. Buses run through Glen Echo loop east from Yonge on the north side of the platform, then east and south to Glen Echo, returning west to Yonge. At the south end of the route buses use a temporary loop and loading platform north of Eglinton Carhouse Loop.

March 27, 1954

Trolley coach service inaugurated between Eglinton station on the Yonge subway and Glen Echo Loop. Coaches loop through Bay 3 at Eglinton Station, and the inner (south) lane at Glen Echo. Overnight service is provided by the 99 YONGE NIGHT route operating between Glen Echo and Front street.

September 1956

Assigned route number 97.

December 29, 1957

Trolley coaches rerouted through platform bay #2 at Eglinton station.

March 31, 1973

Coincident with the extension of the Yonge subway to York Mills station, trolley bus service is withdrawn and diesel buses operate from Eglinton station via Yonge to Sheppard, looping through the unopened Sheppard station bus loop on Sheppard Avenue, just west of Yonge.

Alternate buses run north on Yonge and then northwest on Yonge Boulevard and east on Wilson to York Mills station. These buses loop via north on Yonge then east and south through York Mills station, exiting onto westbound York Mills. Passengers disembark at the northbound stop on Yonge at the entrance to the station. This branch replaces 96 WILSON service on Yonge Boulevard.

NOTE: “Sheppard Stn” destination sign above. This has been confirmed by photographic evidence. Possibly when these rollsigns were commissioned, it was still planned to have Sheppard station on this day. Labour disruptions delayed construction of the North Yonge subway extension and the TTC responded by only opening service to York Mills in 1973.

March 30, 1974

Coincident with the extension of the Yonge subway to Finch, Yonge buses are extended north of Sheppard via Yonge to Steeles and then via east on Steeles to an off-street loop located on the south side of Steeles, just east of Yonge.

97A “Yonge Boulevard” buses now terminate at a platform in York Mills station, with buses operating via east on Wilson and York Mills, entering the station and proceeding clockwise around the bus terminal to the designated platform.

Overnight service, formerly provided by 99 YONGE NIGHT, now provided by the 97B branch of the YONGE route, running from the off-street loop at Steeles via Steeles and Yonge to Lakeshore Boulevard, looping via west on Lakeshore, north on Bay and east on Front. Limited early morning Sunday service offered between Lakeshore Boulevard and York Mills station via Yonge Boulevard on a special 97C branch.

June 26 to July 8, 1974

The installation of pedestrian malls on Yonge Street between Bloor and St. Mary, Gerrard and Dundas and Albert and King force diversions to 97B night bus services. Southbound buses operate via south on Yonge, east and south on Church, west on Gloucester, south on Yonge, east on Gerrard, south on Victoria, east on Adelaide, south on Church, west on Wellington to Yonge. Northbound buses operate via north on Yonge, east on King, north on Victoria, west on Gerrard, north on Yonge, east on Dundonald, north and west on Church and north on Yonge.

July 9 to September 3, 1974

The northern pedestrian mall wraps up for the season, but malls continue to operate between Gerrard and Dundas and between Albert and King. Southbound buses are now rerouted to south on Yonge, east on Gerrard, south on Victoria, east on Adelaide, south on Church, west on Wellington to Yonge. Northbound buses operate via north on Yonge, east on King, north on Victoria and west on Gerrard to Yonge. Normal service resumes on September 4.

September 8, 1974

All northbound trips on the 97 branch now stop at a platform inside the bus terminal at Finch station rather than serving the station from stops on Yonge Street. Buses run north on Yonge, east on Finch, through Finch station and then west on Bishop continuing north on Yonge. Southbound buses remain on Yonge Street past Finch station.

February 9, 1987

As part of a major expansion and rebranding of the TTC’s night services, overnight trips that operated on Yonge Street as 97B and 97C buses are now redesignated 320 YONGE BLUE NIGHT

November 26, 1989

As part of a realignment of services in the Avenue Road/Chaplin Crescent area, all 97 YONGE buses are extended south of Eglinton station via Yonge to Davisville station, replacing a segment of the 5 AVENUE ROAD route.

Also, on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., trips leaving Steeles Avenue are extended south of Davisville station via Yonge to Front Street, looping via west on Wellington, south on Bay and east on Front, replacing the discontinued 27 DOWNTOWN route.

February 17, 1992

Midday “Yonge Boulevard” trips are extended south of Davisville station to St. Clair station, looping through the Pleasant Boulevard bus loop.

February 18, 1996

Due system-wide cutbacks as a result of the elimination of provincial operating subsidies, service south of St. Clair station is eliminated during midday, Mondays through Fridays. Late evening (10 p.m.) service on Yonge between Yonge Boulevard and Steeles also eliminated, seven days a week.

May 5, 1997

During the morning rush hour, 97B trips are extended south from Front to Queens Quay, looping via west on Wellington, south on Bay, east on Queen’s Quay, north on Yonge, west on Lakeshore, north on Bay and east on Front before returning north on Yonge. Afternoon peak buses continue to loop via west on Wellington, south on Bay and east on Front. It is likely that the “97B Front” rollsign continued to be used for this extension.

March 22, 1998

Looping at Steeles expanded, with buses now looping via west on Moore Park, north on Hilda and east on Steeles before returning south on Yonge. Also, during rush hours, all “York Mills station via Yonge Boulevard” trips originate at Davisville station (97A) rather than St. Clair station (97D)

February 14, 1999

As a result of construction on the Sheppard subway at the Sheppard/Yonge intersection, the 97 YONGE route is split in order to improve the reliability of service. All YONGE buses operate north on Yonge and northwest on Yonge Boulevard only, heading east on Wilson and looping through York Mills station. A separate, temporary 197 NORTH YONGE is operated north from Lawrence station to cover the portion of Yonge Street between Yonge Boulevard and Steeles Avenue.

Also on this date, the rush hour looping of 97B trips in the downtown area is revised, with morning trips now looping via east on Wellington, south on Bay, west on Queen’s Quay and north on Yonge, and afternoon trips looping via south on Yonge, west on Queen’s Quay, north on Bay and east on Front.

October 14, 2001

With major subway construction at Sheppard now finished, through service is again operated on Yonge to Steeles Avenue, with the separate 197 NORTH YONGE service discontinued.

November 23, 2008

As part of the Ridership Growth Strategy, late evening service restored north of York Mills station to Steeles Avenue. Late evening service operates every thirty minutes on the main branch (97), alternating with 97A buses operating from Davisville station to York Mills station via Yonge Boulevard, also at 30 minute intervals, combining to provide 15 minute service between Davisville station and Yonge Boulevard. Service also increased during weekday middays and Sundays and holidays, with the 97 and 97A branches operating at every 30 minutes, combining to provide 15 minute service between Davisville station and Yonge Boulevard.

January 6, 2014

Due to watermain work on Yonge Street between Finch and Sheppard, service on 97 YONGE is split to maintain reliability. Buses now operate in three branches: from Lawrence station via Yonge to Steeles (operating 7 days a week, 18hours a day), from Davisville station via Yonge and Yonge Boulevard to York Mills station (operating 7 days a week, 18 hours a day), and from Queen’s Quay via Yonge to York Mills station (not via Yonge Boulevard) (operating during rush hours only). Unlike the previous split at Lawrence, the Lawrence-to-Steeles run is not renumbered 197 NORTH YONGE. Midday service between St. Clair and Davisville stations is discontinued.

October 12, 2014

On this date or before, watermain construction at Yonge and Sheppard ends, and normal service is restored on the 97 YONGE route, including service to St. Clair. Around this time, as part of a overall redesignation of TTC route branches, the main 97 YONGE “Davisville Stn-Steeles” branch is redesignated 97F.

May 8, 2016

Due to renewed construction around the Sheppard/Yonge intersection, the 97 YONGE route is split again at Lawrence station, with midday service between St. Clair and Davisville station eliminated, as it was in January 2014.

October 9, 2018

With construction of Sheppard/Yonge intersection ends and change in road construction conditions along Yonge Street, the service and schedules on the 97 YONGE reverts to its normal state just as it was in October 2014. Unlike its previous iteration, the 97C “York Mills” and 97D “Steeles” midday trips to St. Clair station is discontinued.

Monday, May 14, 2019

Due to part of the bus roadway at Davisville station being closed for rehabilitation, buses on the 97B southbound service to Queen’s Quay will no longer enter the station, and will board passengers on the street. No change to northbound buses operating from Davisville station.

November 21, 2021

Due to a downturn in ridership as a result of a new wave of COVID-19 cases, service is reduced on this route, with branches combined to operate from the south end of the route to Steeles via Yonge, Yonge Boulevard and Wilson, temporarily removing service on Yonge Street between Yonge Boulevard and Wilson Avenue. Buses on the 97B rush hour branch are revised to operate from Queen’s Quay to Steeles via Yonge, Yonge Boulevard, Wilson and Yonge while buses on the off-peak 97F branch operate from Davisville Station via Yonge, Yonge Boulevard, Wilson and Yonge to Steeles. Service operates every 30 minutes.

March 27, 2022

As an interim measure, service on 97 YONGE is modified so that alternating trips serve Yonge Street between Wilson Avenue and Yonge Boulevard and Yonge Boulevard between Wilson Avenue and Yonge Street. This restores service that was cut to stops at McGlashan Road, Mill Street and 3800 Yonge Street due to reductions in the November 2021 boar period. To do this, during peak periods, buses operate on a 97B “Queens Quay to Steeles via Yonge Boulevard”, operating in both directions via Yonge Street, Yonge Boulevard and Wilson, and 97C “Queens Quay to Steeles via Yonge Street”, operating over the regular route via Yonge Street. During off-peak hours, buses operate on the 97D “Davisville Station to Steeles via Yonge Street” and 97F “Davisville Station to Steeles via Yonge Boulevard”. These branches operate at 60 minute intervals, with service combining to provide 30 minute service over the common parts of the route.

97 Yonge Image Archive

	A 1953 map of proposed trolley coach and bus services operating out of Eglinton station following the opening of the YONGE subway. Note that the NORTOWN trolley coach is referred to as the EGLINTON trolley coach. Image courtesy Rob Pineault collection.
	TTC Twin Coach 41-S bus #1358 operates northbound on Yonge at Eglinton on March 7, 1954. It's the early days of the YONGE route, and diesel buses are operating on the line temporarily until trolley bus wires can be fully installed. The photo is by James Victor Salmon and is courtesy the Toronto Public Library.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9086 pulls out of Eglinton Terminal in service on the YONGE trolley bus route. This photo was taken on July 5, 1954 and is courtesy Richard Glaze.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley bus #9091 picks up passengers at Glen Echo loop on July 5, 1954. Photo courtesy Richard Glaze.
	A pre-rebuilt trolley coach operates southbound on Yonge at Fairlawn. Photo by R. Hill, donated from the Rob Hutchinson collection.
	A southbound Western Flyer rebuild operating on 97 YONGE service approaches Ranleigh, just north of Lawrence Avenue. Note the decking indicating construction on the North Yonge extension. Photo by R. Hill, donated from the Rob Hutchinson collection.
	A 97 YONGE trolley coach pulls out of Eglinton station's bus terminal in this early 1960s scene. Photo courtesy the Toronto Archives.
	Canadian Car and Foundry trolley coaches #9100 (southbound) and #9085 (northbound) operates on 97 YONGE just south on Lawrence Avenue. This view, taken by Richard Glaze circa October 1969, faces north.
	A pre-rebuild trolley coach pauses at Glen Echo loop before making its run back to Eglinton, late on a June evening in 1970. Less than three years later, the trolley bus would be gone, and the loop would soon follow. Photo by Mike Harrington.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9083 pulls off of Yonge Street through the diagonal driveway into Eglinton subway station in 97 YONGE service. TTC line truck #149 works on the overhead. Richard Glaze captured this image around October 1970.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9089 pulls off of Yonge Street into Eglinton Station in 97 YONGE service. Note that it's using the diagonal driveway from Yonge Street into the northern side of the bus terminal. This would be built over by development later. Richard Glaze caught this image circa October 1970.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9092 heads southbound on Yonge Street, approaching Glengrove in 97 YONGE service. This October 1970 shot was taken by Richard Glaze.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry bus #9094 heads northbound on Yonge Street, passing Alexandra Avenue in 97 YONGE service. Richard Glaze took this photo circa October 1970.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley bus #9096 has just departed Glen Echo loop and is passing Yonge Boulevard southbound on Yonge in 97 YONGE service. This shot was taken by Richard Glaze circa October 1970.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9100 heads southbound on 97 YONGE service, passing Ranleigh circa October 1970. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9100 heads southbound on Yonge in 97 YONGE service, passing Wanless circa October 1970. Photo by Richard Glaze.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9100 lays over at Glen Echo loop in 97 YONGE service. This shot was taken circa October 1970 by Richard Glaze.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley coach #9062 pulls into Glen Echo loop in 97 YONGE service. Richard Glaze took this photo circa December 1971.
	TTC Canadian Car & Foundry trolley bus #9062 lays over at Glen Echo Loop. Richard Glaze snapped this photo from the west side of Yonge Street circa December 1971.
	TTC Western Flyer rebuilt trolley coach #9324 heads southbound on Yonge, crossing Lawrence in 97 YONGE service. It has passed construction on Lawrence Station that would replace it just months later. This May 1972 shot was taken by Richard Glaze.
	A busy day for the 97 YONGE trolley coach. Southbound Western Flyer rebuild #9342 crosses Lawrence Avenue while northbound 9311 heads towards the city limits. Western Flyer rebuild 9324 follows southbound behind. This May 1972 shot was taken by Richard Glaze.
	TTC GM New Look bus #3541 in service on 34 EGLINTON EAST passes Western Flyer Rebuild #9345 in service on 97 YONGE with another GM New Look in service on 5 AVENUE ROAD in tow in this 1973 scene. The buses are heading north on Yonge Street past Canada Square, just south of Eglinton Avenue. The photographer is unknown; the photo is from the Pete Coulman collection.
	An advertisement in the Wednesday, March 28, 1973 edition of the Toronto Star reveals the changes that took place when the YONGE SUBWAY was extended from Eglinton station to York Mills.
	TTC GM New Look 7152 heads northbound on Yonge at Roehampton in this 1973 shot. This image is a rare shot of the rollsign showing a "SHEPPARD STN" exposure -- a legacy of the original planned opening of the north Yonge extension to Sheppard rather than York Mills. Photo by Anthony Holt, from the R. Lubinski collection.
	An issue of TTC's "Headlights", describing changes to bus services coincident with the extension of the YONGE SUBWAY to Finch on March 30, 1974.
	TTC GM New Look bus #3341 pauses at York Mills station, in service on the 97 YONGE route ("Yonge Blvd" branch) on October 5, 1982. The photographer is unknown.
	TTC GM "New Look" bus #8176 heads southbound on Yonge Street at Hendon in 97 YONGE service on April 9, 1984. The photographer is unknown and the image is courtesy the Gilbert Ebling collection.
	An official TTC map of 97 YONGE operations, effective February 14, 1999 due to the split of 197 NORTH YONGE.
	TTC Orion VII bus 7537 crosses Lawrence Avenue northbound on a 97A "Yonge Blvd" run on July 12, 2006. Photo by James Bow
	Official TTC map of 97 YONGE operations, effective July 2010.
	TTC Orion VII Hybrid 1092 departs Finch station for the rest of the 97 YONGE run to Steeles. Photo snapped on January 22, 2010 by Downsview7834.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #1386 pulls into Davisville Station, in service northbound on 97 YONGE to pick up passengers. The photo is by James Bow and was taken on March 12, 2013.
	An official TTC map of 97 YONGE operations effective January 5, 2014, showing the revision of the route due to watermain work on Yonge Street between Sheppard and Finch.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7682 loads passengers at York Mill station on the afternoon of February 25, 2014. The route has been split in two due to watermain work on Yonge between Sheppard and Finch, with one branch operating between Davisville station and York Mills station via Yonge Blvd. Strangely, however, on this day southbound buses were signed 97F "Davisville Stn via Yonge Blvd" while northbound buses were signed 97A "York Mills Stn via Yonge Blvd". Photo by James Bow.
	An official TTC map showing the route diversions of the 97 YONGE bus effective May 8, 2016.
	TTC Orion VII "Next Gen" bus #8324 lays over at Finch station in service on the 97 YONGE route on June 21, 2018. This photo was taken by Zhuhan Li on June 21, 2018.
	A map showing a revision of 97 YONGE services to maintain service on both Yonge Boulevard and Yonge Street during COVID-related service cuts, effective March 27, 2022.