Compiled by Pete Coulman and Jelo Gutierrez Cantos
With assistance by Mike Vainchtein

May 11, 1968

Coincident with the extension of the BLOOR-DANFORTH SUBWAY to Warden station, service begins on the new 16 McCOWAN bus, replacing a portion of the 21 DANFORTH bus, now defunct. Buses on the main branch of 16 McCOWAN operate from Warden station via north on Warden, east on St. Clair Avenue East, northeast on Danforth Road and north on McCowan Road to Huronia Gate, looping via east on Huronia Gate, north on Lynnbrook, north on Stoneton and west on Ellesmere Road to McCowan, returning via south on McCowan over the reverse route to Warden station. Buses operate seven days a week, eighteen hours a day.

On Sunday mornings, before the start of subway service, service is extended southwest from Danforth Road and St. Clair via Danforth Road and Danforth Avenue to Main Street, heading north on Main Street into Main Street subway station, connecting with the 10 BLOOR-DANFORTH night buses.

Additional rush hour service is also provided between Warden station and Lawrence Avenue, with buses looping at the north end clockwise via west on Hollyhedge, north on Valpariso and east on Lawrence to McCowan.

Note that buses exit from Warden station via Warden Avenue and enter via St. Clair Avenue.

As this route operated entirely in Zone 2 (with the exception of the early Sunday morning extension), most buses employ the normal pay-enter system with transfer privileges to all connecting routes, with passengers paying separate fares between the subway and McCowan buses at Warden station. On Sunday mornings, when buses cross into Zone 1, a zone check is made both ways at the zone boundary at Danforth and Sibley (this would end once zone fares were eliminated on the TTC within Metropolitan Toronto in 1972).

After December 10, 1968 and Before February 10, 1969 (date unclear)

16A “Lawrence” rush hour short turn discontinued.

January 3, 1971

Service extended north of Ellesmere on McCowan to loop counterclockwise via a new off-street loop on the east side of McCowan, opposite Commander Boulevard (just north of Sheppard Avenue, and just past the Canadian Pacific railway tracks). The old looping via Huronia, Lynnbrook, Stoneton and Ellesmere discontinued. This change applies both for the main branch and the 16B Sunday morning extension to Main Street station.

January 6, 1975

Service extended along a new branch operating north on McCowan Road to Sandhurst Circle, looping counterclockwise via east and south on Sandhurst and east on Finch to McCowan, returning over the reverse route. Service on this branch operates Mondays through Fridays, during rush hours and midday. Service to Sheppard continues at all other times.

January 4, 1976

Service altered to provide additional service to the Scarborough Town Centre and daily service to Finch Avenue at McCowan Road. 16 McCOWAN buses operate over the normal route from Warden station to Bushby (just north of Ellesmere) and west on Bushby, looping through the Scarborough Town Centre counterclockwise on Borough Drive to Bushby, returning to Warden via the reverse route. Service on McCowan Road north of Bushby now provided by an extension of 21 BRIMLEY.

March 23, 1985

Coincident with the opening of the SCARBOROUGH RT, all McCowan buses operate from Warden station via Warden, St. Clair, Danforth, McCowan to the Scarborough Centre bus access road just north of Ellesmere, and from there west into Scarborough Centre station, returning via the reverse route. Early Sunday morning 16B “Main Stn” trips discontinued.

September 4, 2005

Route made accessible using Orion VII low-floor buses on all trips. On or after this date, bike rack service becomes available.

16 McCowan Image Archive

	A TTC Orders and Notice for 16 McCOWAN, describing route changes effective January 3, 1971.
	A scan of the outside pages of TTC's official timetable for 16 McCOWAN, effective January 6, 1975.
	A scan of the inside pages of TTC's official timetable for 16 McCOWAN, effective January 6, 1975.
	A scan of the outside pages of TTC's official timetable for 16 McCOWAN, effective June 25, 1990.
	A scan of the inside pages of TTC's official timetable for 16 McCOWAN, effective June 25, 1990.
	A TTC newspaper advertisement in the Toronto Star on January 2, 1976 announcing service changes to 16 McCOWAN, 21 BRIMLEY, 85 SHEPPARD EAST and 100 FLEMINGDON PARK.
	An official map of 16 McCOWAN operations, effective June 2011.
	A Birchmount Division rollsign circa 1968, showing exposures on the 16 McCOWAN route. Note the underline beneath the first "c" in "McCowan". This style disappeared from rollsigns in the 1970s. Photo donated by Pete Coulman.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7831 heads northbound in service on 16 McCOWAN on a beautiful day in July 2009. Photo by Jelo Gutierrez Cantos.