Compiled by Jeffrey Kay
Map by James Bow

Selection of Finch transfers (courtesy Jeffrey Kay)

• See also 309 FINCH WEST BLUE NIGHT

TTC service on Finch Avenue began on June 24, 1957 when the Senlac branch of the 59 NORTH YONGE service was extended west from Senlac to Bathurst. Sometime later, the route was extended further west to loop in the Branson Hospital grounds. As suburban development filled out North York, the demand for increased service along Finch Avenue continued and, on October 7, 1962, was filled with a branch of the 11 BAYVIEW bus, running west on Finch from Bayview to loop on the grounds of Branson Hospital.

Demand increased still more, however, such that a through route was deemed necessary. Thus service began on 36 FINCH on September 3, 1963, but the Finch branch of the 11 BAYVIEW bus remained, providing evening service on weekdays and all day service on weekends. This was reduced to Sunday-only service on November 29, 1965 as 36 FINCH service increased, and vanished altogether on August 27, 1972.

36 FINCH (1963-1974)

September 3, 1963

Service begins on a new route operating east from Branson Hospital (just west of the Finch/Bathurst intersection) to Leslie Street, looping via Leslie and Ravel. Service provided Mondays through Fridays, during rush hours and midday only.

November 29, 1965

Service extended west to Weston Road, running north on Weston to loop via east on Kenhar, south on Signet and west on Fenmar. Service operates Monday through Friday, during rush hours and midday. Monday-to-Friday evening service and all-day Saturday service provided by a new branch operating between Leslie and Keele, looping via south on Tangiers and west on Toro.

October 31, 1966

Additional service operated west of Weston Road, running to Perldale and looping via north on Pearldale, east on Hasbroke and south on Gracedale. (A temporary loop via Rumike, Lindylou and Jayzel was operated until Dec. 13 / 66, due to construction on Finch between Rumike and Pearldale.) In the east end, buses are extended north on Leslie to Hillcrest Village, looping east on Clansman, north on Cresthaven, and west on Dexter.

NOTE: Pending completion of construction on Finch west of Rumike Road, a temporary windshield card with “RUMIKE RD” on one side and “HILLCREST VILLAGE” on the reverse is used for the short-lived Pearldale extension.

September 5, 1967

All Pearldale service extended to Islington Avenue, looping counter-clockwise through the intersection.

January 2, 1968

Service to Islington Avenue extended south on Islington to loop via east and south on Wardlaw and west on Barkwin Drive, just north of Albion Road.

May 11, 1968

Service extended west of Islington via Albion Road to Martin Grove, looping via north on Silverstone, east on Lexington and south on Martin Grove. This extension replaces a portion of the 37 ISLINGTON route.

January 6, 1969

Service to HIllcrest Village replaced by an extension of the 51 LESLIE bus. Monday-to-Friday service extended east on Finch to Seneca College, turning at an off-street loop on the north side of Finch.

February 8, 1971

Evening and Saturday service extended west from Keele to Albion & Islington, looping east and south on Wardlaw Cres, and west on Barkwin Drive. In the east end Saturday service is extended east of Leslie to Seneca College.

August 3, 1971

The loop at Islington is reversed. Buses now run east on Barkwin, then north and west on Wardlaw.

September 3, 1972

Sunday service introduced between Islington and Seneca College, replacing the last remnants of the 11 BAYVIEW Finch branch. The loop at Weston Road is extended so that buses operate north on Weston Road, east on Garyray, south on Signet west on Fenmar and south on Weston Road to Finch.

September 1973

(Or two months earlier) Evening and weekend service extended west of Islington to Martin Grove.

March 29, 1974

Last day of operation for 36 FINCH. Service west of Yonge replaced by 36 FINCH WEST. Service east of Yonge replaced by 39 FINCH EAST.

36 FINCH WEST (1974-date)

March 30, 1974

Coincident with the extension of the Yonge subway to Finch station, the 36 FINCH route is split, with service west of Yonge operating out of Finch station, via Finch, Islington and Albion to Martin Grove, looping via north on Silverstone, east on Lexington and south on Martin Grove, eighteen hours a day, seven days a week. A short turn service operates during Monday-to-Friday rush hours and midday between Finch Station and Weston Road, running north on Weston Road to loop via east on Steeles, south on Signet and west on Fenmar.

January 6, 1975

Buses now running every 11 minutes during the day on Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sunday afternoons.

May 12, 1975

Route extended west on Albion Rd. from Martin Grove to a new loop at Humberline Dr. Service on this extension provided 12 hours a day, Monday through Friday only, every 7½ minutes during rush hours and every 20 minutes midday. Evening and weekend service continue to turn at Martin Grove.

October 17, 1977

A new rush hour branch established between Finch Station and Humber College, operating west via Finch, Islington, Albion and Finch Avenue, looping via north on Humber College Blvd., east on Carrier Drive and south on Woodbine Downs.

September 5, 1978

The “Weston Road” service through the industrial area along Weston Road north of Finch Avenue is split during the rush hours, with a new loop operating west on Steeles, south on Barmac and east on Ormont.

January 4, 1982

Service to Humber College extended west via Finch and north on Humberline to Albion Road, where it shares the off-street loop with the 36B branch. Monday to Friday evening service extended on the Albion Road branch from Martin Grove to Humberline.

September 6, 1983

The two Weston Road branches are replaced by an extension of the 96 WILSON bus to Steeles and Weston Road. Service on the 96B WILSON branch to the Milvan Industrial area is replaced by the new 36E FINCH branch, operating between Finch Station and Weston Road and looping via north on Weston Road, northwest on Toryork and southwest on Milvan to Finch. Additional rush hour trips continue past Weston Road and loop via south on Rumike, east on Lindylou and north on Jayzel. The 36C branch to Humber College and Humberline is replaced by the new 118 FINCH VIA ALLEN route.

January 3, 1984

The 36C FINCH branch is restored, providing midday service on Finch Avenue west of Albion and on Humberline.

February 11, 1984

2 buses added on Saturdays to improve service during the day to every 7-8 minutes.

April 15 , 1984

1 buses added on Sundays to improve service between 11:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. to every 10 minutes.

March 23, 1985

Additional rush hour service provided between Finch Station and Islington, looping via Barkwin and Wardlaw Crescents.

February 9, 1987

Night service added as route 309 FINCH WEST BLUE NIGHT.

March 1988

(Start date uncertain) Midday service added to the 36A Islington branch.

February 5, 1989

New rush hour service is added between Finch station and Weston Road, operating north on Weston and northwest on Fenmar to loop via east on Steeles, south on Turbine and west on Grayray. Service on the 36F branch is replaced by an expanded 36E service, looping via Toryork, Milvan, Rumike, Lindylou and Jayzel.

February 18, 1990

Saturday midday service introduced on Albion Road between Martin Grove and Humberline.

November 26, 1990

With the opening of Finch Avenue between Islington Road and Albion Road west of Martin Grove, the TTC decides to route 36 FINCH buses along the new section of roadway, providing through service along the length of Finch Avenue from Finch Station to Humberline. Service on Albion Road now provided by an extended 73 ROYAL YORK bus and a revised 118 FINCH VIA ALLEN. Evening and weekend daytime service added to the 36A Islington branch.

February 17, 1991

(Start date unconfirmed) Weekend short turn service to Islington discontinued.

January 3, 1993

Rush hour service on Fenmar discontinued.

February 15, 1993

To serve a new residential development, midday and afternoon rush hour service extended southwest from Humberline via Humberwood Boulevard to an off-street loop shared with 37A ISLINGTON buses.

Two additional trips provided in the a.m. rush hour leaving Humberwood at 6:08 a.m. and 6:29 a.m. and leaving Finch Station at 5:15 a.m. and 5:35 a.m. (36B)

March 15, 1993

Morning rush hour service added to the 36B Humberwood branch.

October 4, 1993

Westbound 36B Humberwood buses are rerouted west of Highway 27 to provide improved service to the new residential area. Buses run west on Finch, south on Humber College Blvd, west on Humberline and west on Humberwood. Eastbound buses return over the original routing.

September 3, 1995

Evening and weekend service added to the Humberline branch.

February 18, 1996

Due to budget cuts, Monday-Friday rush hour, midday and early evening frequent service reduced. Saturday early evening service reduced to 13-14 minutes and late evening reduced to every 15 minutes. Sunday early evening reduced to 15-16 minutes.

April 1, 1996

Rush hour short turn service extended from Islington via west on Finch, to loop southeast on Albion and north on Kipling.

July 28, 1996

The line designated as an ACCESSIBLE route, with all off-peak trips and most peak trips operated by lift-equipped Orion V buses.

January 6, 1997

New morning rush hour service introduced between Finch Station and Jane, looping via north on Jane and then west and south on York Gate.

June 14, 1998

As part of a system wide initiative to simplify branch designations and consistently use the letter E for express branches, the suffix for the Milvan branch is changed from 36E to 36D.

February 13, 2000

The sign for the 36D branch buses altered to better describe the destination.

October 15, 2000

Service increased at the end of the afternoon peak period, to reduce overcrowding. Four new westbound trips added from Finch Station, between 6:20 and 7:00 p.m.

January 7, 2001

Westbound service from Finch Station increased during the end of the morning peak period and at the beginning of the late evening from Monday to Friday, and at the end of the daytime on Saturdays, to reduce overcrowding. Five additional westbound trips added from approximately 8:54 a.m. to 9:23 a.m., Monday to Friday. One additional westbound trip added at approximately 9:53 p.m., Monday to Friday. Four additional westbound trips added from approximately 6:52 p.m. to 7:42 p.m., on Saturdays. All of the new trips operate on the 36D (Finch Stn-Jane) branch. Two buses added to the route in the afternoon peak period. These buses used when required to provide a more reliable service on 36 Finch West, which by now is subject to severe delays from vehicular congestion.

February 18, 2001

The service levels and round-trip time increased during the afternoon peak period from Monday to Friday, in order to operate a more reliable service. The combined service between Finch Station and Weston Road improved from every 3 minutes 53 seconds to every 3 minutes 45 seconds.

Service increased during the evening on Saturdays and the daytime and evening on Sundays, to reduce overcrowding. During the daytime on Sundays and holidays, the service improved from every 10 minutes to every 7 minutes. During the evenings on Saturdays, the service improved from every 13 minutes to every 12 minutes. During the evenings on Sundays and holidays, the service improved from every 17 minutes to every 12 minutes.

September 2, 2001

Service increased during the morning peak period from Monday to Friday, to reduce crowding. The combined service east of Jane Street improved from every 2 min 55 s to every 2 min 40 s.

Service increased during the daytime on Saturdays, to reduce crowding. The combined service east of Kipling Avenue improved from every 7 min 40 s to every 6 min 30 s. Service west of Kipling Avenue changed from every 7 min 40 s to every 13 min.

Sundays from September 1, 2002 through October 6, 2002, inclusive.

Due to construction on the Sheppard subway, route extended to York Mills Station during the Sunday morning hours (before noon) that subway service is normally provided. Service levels are not changed, but trip times may change slightly. Buses loop through Finch station before heading west on Finch and south on Yonge, stopping only at Park Home Avenue and Sheppard Avenue.

September 8, 2002

Saturday daytime service adjusted so that alternate buses operate between Finch Station and Kipling only.

August 31, 2003

Beginning with the new school year in September 2003, St. Basil-the-Great College School returned to one dismissal time, at 2:45 p.m., instead of the two dismissal times at 2:05 p.m. and 3:25 p.m. which was in place during the last school year. Four school trips were removed as a result of the dismissal time change, with the four remaining trips adjusted to depart at 3:00 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

A bus arrives at the school for loading at 2:50 p.m. and departs northbound/westbound from the school to Humberwood Loop at 3:00 p.m. This trip displays the destination sign 36B FINCH WEST / TO HUMBERWOOD

September 7, 2004

Service increased in the afternoon peak period, to reduce crowding. The combined service east of Weston Road improved from every 3 minutes, 45 seconds to every 3 minutes, 15 seconds. Additional time added to the schedules during the midday from Monday to Friday, in order to operate a more-reliable service. The combined service east of Albion Road changes from every 5 minutes, 30 seconds to 6 minutes.

January 2, 2005

Accessible service improved with the addition of new Orion VII low-floor buses.

February 13, 2005

Additional time added to the schedules during the evenings and weekends, in order to operate a more reliable service. During the early evening from Monday to Friday, the combined service east of Kipling Avenues changes from every 8 minutes 30 seconds to every 9 minutes 30 seconds. During the late evening from Monday to Friday, the combined service east of Kipling Avenue changes from every 10 minutes to every 11 minutes.

During the daytime on Saturdays, the combined service east of Kipling Avenue changes from every 6 minutes 30 seconds to every 7 minutes 30 seconds.

June 19, 2005

As part of the TTC’s Ridership Growth Strategy, service increased on Saturdays and Sundays. During the daytime on Saturdays, the combined service east of Kipling Avenue improved from every 7 minutes 30 seconds to every 6 minutes. During the daytime on Sundays, service improved from every 7 minutes to every 6 minutes 30 seconds.

August 20, 2005 - January 21, 2006 (approx)

Due to a washout of the Black Creek bridge following a major storm, All branches are diverted both ways between Keele Street and Jane Street via Driftwood Avenue, Grandravine Drive and Sentinel Road. On October 16, 2005, 36C branch is replaced by a 36S to Keele branch, buses loop via north on Keele, west on Murray Ross and south on Sentinel. A.M. rush service changed to run every 3.5 minutes instead of every 3.25 minutes. On December 17, 2005, the TTC installs a special service with buses operating east on Finch Avenue, north on Tobermory Drive, west on Potsdam Road, south on Driftwood Avenue, west on Finch Avenue, north on Jane Street, west and south on York Gate Boulevard, and east on Finch Avenue. Frequent service operated from about 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from about 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.

September 4, 2005

Monday to Friday evening service supplemented by additional trips between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Service also increased west of Kipling Avenue. All buses on the route operate on the 36B (Finch Station- Humberwood) branch and service west of Kipling Avenue will be improved from every 19 minutes to every 9 minutes in the early evening, and from every 22 minutes to every 11 minutes in the late evening.

Saturday early evening service supplemented by additional trips from Finch Station to Weston Road at approximately 7:12 and 7:24 p.m.

October 17, 2005

36D rush hour buses turn directly onto eastbound Finch from Milvan, removing branch service on Rumike, Lindylou and Jayzel.

June 20, 2011

Rush hour service revised in the Milvan area to provide new service on Fenmar Drive, between Weston Road and Ormont. Buses will alternate between the existing 36D “Weston Road and Milvan” branch and a new 36F “Weston Road and Milvan via Fenmar” branch, with 36F buses following the normal route to Finch Avenue and Weston Road and then proceeding north on Weston, west on Fenmar, west on Ormont, west on Toryork, south on Milvan and east on Finch, returning to Finch station.

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36 Finch West Image Archive

	An announcement highlighting the extension of the 51 LESLIE and 36 FINCH buses, effective January 6, 1969.
	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 Orion VII NG Hybrid bus #1206 loading passengers on route 36 FINCH WEST at Finch Station. Photo taken on June 21, 2011 by Jelo Gutierrez-Cantos.
	TTC Orion V bus #7053 runs eastbound on Finch at Dufferin in 36 FINCH WEST service. Photo by David Cavlovic.
	TTC GM "New Look" #3504 heads eastbound on Finch past Keele in service on 36 FINCH on August 9, 1973. Photo by Paul Bateson, donated by Pete Coulman.
	The official TTC timetable map of 36 FINCH WEST operations, effective July 2010.