Compiled by James Bow
With information from Mike’s Transit Stop.

As plans to redevelop the Portlands progressed in the early part of the 21st century, the City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission saw a need to improve public transit in the area. The area around Commissioners Street, Cherry Street, Mill Street and the Esplanade was already served by the 72A branch of the PAPE bus, but Cherry Street south of Commissioners had not supported a bus route for several years.

The TTC studied travel patterns in the area as well as development plans and decided that Cherry Street south of Commissioners could be served during the daytime on weekdays by a branch of the 72 PAPE bus. During the evenings, however, Commissioners Street did not have the passengers to support a bus service in the way the Esplanade did. So, during weekday evenings and weekends, the TTC proposed installing a new bus route, operating over the Esplanade, Mill and Cherry Street portions of the 72A PAPE bus, and continuing south on Cherry Street beyond Commissioners to serve the new ferry service to Rochester and the Cherry Beach area. The TTC saw this as a seasonal service that would operate during the summer months and when the Rochester ferry was in service.

May 9, 2004

Service begins on 172 CHERRY STREET, with buses operating from a loop in a parking lot near Cherry Beach (Clarke Beach Park), via north on Cherry Street, west on Mill Street, north on Parliament Street, west on Front Street, south on Berkeley Street and west on the Esplanade to Yonge Street, looping via north on Yonge, west on Wellington, south on Bay, east on Front and south on Scott, returning to Clarke Beach Park over the return route. Service detours into the Toronto International Ferry Terminal when ferry service operates

Service operates during weekday evenings and Saturday, Sunday and holiday daytime and evening hours, at 20 minute intervals during the daytime and 30 minute intervals during the evening. At other times, service is provided by the 72B branch of the PAPE bus, operating westbound via Commissioners, then south on Cherry Street to Clarke Beach Park, doubling back via the 172 CHERRY STREET routing to Union Station, and returning via the same route to Commissioners Street.

July 26, 2004

The last bus to operate into the Toronto International Ferry Terminal departs at 8:45 p.m. as the terminal now closes its doors at 9:00 p.m.

September 8, 2004

Due to seasonal service reductions, service ends on the 72B branch of the PAPE bus, with the service reverting to the 72A operation (Pape station to Union station via Commissioners). Monday to Friday daytime service now provided by 172 CHERRY BEACH, operating every 40 minutes, and interlined with the 72A PAPE bus.

November 22, 2004

Due to seasonal reductions, weekday service ends on this route.

December 19, 2004

Due to seasonal reductions, weekday and holiday service on this route is cut back to Commissioners Street, looping via east on Villiers Street and south on Munitions Street. Buses operate at 15 minute intervals on Saturdays and 30 minute intervals on Sundays and holidays.

May 8, 2005

Due to a seasonal increase in ridership demand, service on Cherry Street south of Commissioners to Clarke Beach Park is restored.

June 30, 2005

Due to the resumption of ferry service between Toronto and Rochester, service increased to all days of the week between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. with buses diverting into the International Marine Passenger Terminal.

November 22, 2005

Due to a reduction in ferry service, service on this route is suspended Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

January 2, 2006

Because it had been announced that the Rochester ferry would not sail through January, February and most of March all remaining weekday service on this route was suspended. Weekend and holiday service is cut back from Clarke Beach Park to the corner of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street, looping via east on Villiers Street and south on Munitions Street. This operation is now designated as the 172A branch of the CHERRY STREET bus.

Ferry service to Rochester did not resume for this year.

May 7, 2006

As part of the usual seasonal ridership increase, weekend and holiday service on the 172 branch to Clarke Beach Park is restored.

June 19, 2006

Weekday service established, operating on the 172A branch between Union station and Commissioners Street, looping via Villiers and Munitions. It was expected that this service would operate until Labour Day.

September 5, 2006

As announced, weekday service on the 172A branch to Commissioners Street is suspended. Weekend and holiday service to Clarke Beach Park is cut back to Commissioners Street.

Due to repairs on the Cherry Street bridge, service is temporarily diverted in both directions via Lake Shore Boulevard, Don Roadway, and Villiers Street. Buses return to Cherry Street and loop via Cherry, Commissioners and Munitions to Villiers.

May 14, 2007

Weekday evening service established on the 172A branch between Union station and Commissioners Street. Weekend and holiday service to Clarke Beach Park is re-established.

September 4, 2007

Weekday service eliminated as per seasonal reductions. Weekend and holiday service again cut back from Clarke Beach Park to Commissioners Street.

October 21, 2007

Weekend and holiday evening service suspended.

May 11, 2008

Weekend and holiday evening service restored and service extended to Clarke Beach Park during these times. Monday to Friday evening service re-established between Union station and Commissioners Street.

September 2, 2008

All service cut back from Clarke Beach Park to Commissioners Street.

November 23, 2008

As part of the Ridership Growth Strategy, service on the 72A PAPE route between Pape station and Union station is increased to operate seven days a week whenever the subway is open. As this service duplicates the runs of 172 CHERRY STREET, all service on 172 CHERRY STREET is suspended until May 2009.

May 10, 2009

Rather than reinstate seasonal service on 172 CHERRY STREET, the TTC alters service on 72A PAPE, jogging buses in both directions south on Cherry Street from Commissioners to turn around at the end of the street near Cherry Beach. Thus the 172 CHERRY STREET bus route can now be considered defunct.

172 Cherry Street Image Archive

	TTC Orion VII bus #7515 heads south on Bay Street towards Front, in service at the west end of 172 CHERRY STREET. This photo was taken on October 18, 2008 by Jason R. Nason.
	TTC Orion VII bus #7599 turns from Wellington south onto Bay Street at the end of the 172 CHERRY STREET route on October 18, 2008. Photo by Jason R. Nason.