Text by James Bow

See Also

• VIDEO: Bus Loops of Northwestern Toronto

Humber College was established in 1967 to establish a school to educate more students in the skilled trades. The institution set up its first campus (today known as the North Campus) on formerly rural land southwest of Highway 27 and Finch Avenue West. Located far from the city, it was a challenge to serve by public transit. However, as development increased, and Humber College’s student population grew, bus soon arrived on campus.

The first bus route to serve Humber College was 96 WILSON, which extended regular service from Martin Grove to Humber College on September 5, 1971, connecting the college to Yonge Street and Glen Echo loop, a short trip away from the YONGE SUBWAY at Eglinton. The next bus that followed was 36 FINCH WEST, which established a rush hour branch on October 17, 1977. These TTC services grew and developed, primarily connecting the college to points north and east, until June 24, 1991, with the launch of the 191 HIGHWAY 27 EXPRESS, providing a faster connection between Humber College and the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY at Kipling.

But Humber College had established as a strong, local college, and its catchment area extended beyond Toronto’s borders. It wasn’t long before Mississauga Transit extended a route. Brampton Transit followed.

Today, Humber College’s North Campus is home to over 19,000 full time students, including 1,000 students living in residence. The college boasts of its public transit connections, noting that 85% of its students take public transit. The Toronto Transit Commission, MiWay, Brampton Transit and York Region Transit all offer service to the college’s north campus, with the TTC, MiWay and Brampton Transit all offering a number of express or “Rocket” services. In total between 1,200 to 1,3000 transit buses pass through Humber College’s North Campus every day.

With so many bus routes converging on the campus and serving on-street stops, Humber College commissioned the construction of a new bus loop and terminal. Located at the east end of the Learning Resource Commons building, the loop offers ten bus bays, and space for layovers. Passengers have sheltered waiting areas and digital displays showing when the next buses will arrive. Humber College further encouraged transit use by commissioning a smartphone app to provide the same data and arrival time. The loop opened to the public on September 1, 2015.

Routes serving Humber College North Campus, As of March 28, 2016

• Brampton Transit 11 STEELES
• Brampton Transit 50 GORE ROAD
• Brampton Zum 511 STEELES
• GO Transit 38A BOLTON - Stops near campus, but not terminal.
• MiWay 22 FINCH
• MiWay 107 AIRPORT EXPRESS
• TTC 36 FINCH WEST - Through campus, but not terminal
• TTC 96 WILSON
• TTC 186 WILSON ROCKET
• TTC 191 HIGHWAY 27 ROCKET
• YRT 7 MARTIN GROVE

Humber College Bus Terminal Image Archive

	A diagram showing the transit services converging on Humber College's Toronto campuses, effective the 2013-14 school year. Since then, GO has suspended its service to the North Campus.
	Brampton Transit bus #810 awaits passengers at Humber College's bus terminal, in service on the 50 GORE ROAD route. This photo was taken on March 28, 2016. Photo by Jeffrey Kay.
	Brampton Transit ZUM bus #1289 articulated bus in service on the 511 STEELES ZUM route pulls into Humber College bus terminal on March 28, 2016. Photo by Jeffrey Kay.
	MiWay Orion V bus #0302 turns onto Humber College Boulevard, in service on the 22 FINCH route. The route, under a different name, was one of the first Mississauga Transit routes to serve Humber College. This photo was taken on March 28, 2016 by Jeffrey Kay.
	MiWay Express bus #1020 pulls out of Humber College, in service on the 107 AIRPORT EXPRESS route to Square One (via the Mississauga Transitway). This photo was taken on March 28, 2016 by Jeffrey Kay.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7906 lays over at Humber College, in 191 HIGHWAY 27 ROCKET service, on April 7, 2016. Photo by James Bow.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7907 pulls out of Humber College terminal onto Humber College Boulevard, in service on the 191 HIGHWAY 27 ROCKET. Photo taken on March 28, 2016 by Jeffrey Kay.
	TTC Nova LFS bus #8453 awaits passengers at its Humber College bus bay, in service on the 186 WILSON ROCKET. This photo was taken on March 28, 2016 by Jeffrey Kay.
	TTC Nova LFS bus #8463 lays over at Humber College Bus Terminal, in service on the 186 WILSON ROCKET. This photo was taken on March 28, 2016, the first day of service on the new route. Photo by Jeffrey Kay.
	The Humber College Learning Resource Commons building seen behind TTC Nova LFS bus #8463 at Humber College Terminal. This photo was taken by Jeffrey Kay on March 28, 2016.
	York Region Transit is represented at Humber College bus terminal by the 7 MARTIN GROVE route. Here, YRT Orion V bus #303 lays over on March 28, 2016. Photo by Jeffrey Kay.