Toronto Transit Commission route 953 'Steeles East Express'
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953 Steeles East Express
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| Number of Branches | 2 | ||
| Distance | 21.60km (Finch Station - Staines) 17.51km (Finch Station - Markham Rd) | ||
| Blue Night | 353 Steeles 
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| Types of vehicles used | Nova Bus LFS Artic , Nova Bus LFS , New Flyer XDE60
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| Division | McNicoll | ||
| Ridership (2018) | N/A | ||
953 Steeles East Express is a bus route operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This route is part of the Express Network.
Route Details
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This route provides service on Steeles Avenue East between Yonge Street and Staines Road, and the Morningside Heights neighbourhood. It also provides service to the Amazon Fulfillment Centre on Morningside Avenue. This route operates express between Finch Station and McCowan Road making limited express stops at major intersections only. All stops are served east of McCowan Road. There is one western terminal, which is Finch Station. Eastern terminals include Staines Road (Morningside Heights) for 953A, and Markham Road for 953B. This route operates during the weekday peak period only.
During the afternoon peak period, all westbound service operates via south on Bayview Avenue and west on Finch Avenue East to Finch Station. Buses use the Steeles/Bayview loop to turn south on Bayview Avenue.
Branches
This route has 2 branches:
- 953A Finch Station - Staines via Tapscott/Passmore/Morningside
- 953B Finch Station - Markham Rd
History
- February 6, 1989 - Route introduced as the express branch of the 53 Steeles East, known as the 53C Steeles East Express operating between Finch station and McCowan with stops at Don Mills and Bayview.
- June 24, 1990 - 53C extended to operate east towards Middlefield.
- February 13, 1994 - Route renumbered to 53E Steeles East Express, due to a system-wide reorganization to use the letter ‘E’ to designate Express services. Route begins articulated bus service.
- April 18, 1994 - Westbound buses rerouted to operate via Steeles to Bayview, then clockwise through the off-street loop on the northwest corner, then south on Bayview and west on Finch to Finch station during afternoon peak only.
- July 28, 1996 - Route made accessible
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- September 3, 2000 - Articulated buses withdrawn.
- June 25, 2007 - 53F Steeles East Express peak trips to Staines introduced.
- January 2, 2011 - Branch 53F extended to Morningside Heights.
- April 17, 2014 - Articulated bus service restored.
- January 7, 2019 - With the implementation of the TTC's express network, express branches 53E/F are given their own route number and name and is now designated 953 Steeles East Express.
- March 23, 2020 - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the re-allocation of service to busier routes, service is suspended until further notice.
- January 3, 2021 - With the increase in ridership, full weekday peak-period service is restored to pre-pandemic levels.
- March 28, 2021 - This route was transferred to the brand new McNicoll Division.
- October 10, 2021 - As part of the Annual Service Plan 2021, new off-peak service during the weekday midday and early evening, and during the daytime on weekends and Holidays is introduced replacing local service on branch 53A Steeles East. All off-peak westbound service will operate via Steeles Avenue East and Yonge Street to Finch Station.
- November 21, 2021 - New express stop added in both directions at Leslie Street. Due to a shortage of operators, all off-peak service is temporarily suspended until further notice.
- September 4, 2022 - The routing of the eastern terminus of branch 953B is adjusted to operate via Tapscott Avenue, Passmore Avenue, and Morningside Avenue to better serve the employment area. Service on Markham Road and Select Avenue is discontinued.
- March 26, 2023 - The routing of branch 953A is modified to operate via the Amazon Scarborough Facility in both directions to replace the routing of branch 953B. As a result, branch 953B is suspended and all service will operate on branch 953A.
- September 3, 2023 - New express stop added in both directions at Milliken GO Station.
Overnight Service
Overnight service is provided by route 353 Steeles on Steeles Avenue East and Staines Road. The rest of the route does not have overnight service.
Vehicles
Buses that can appear on 953 Steeles East Express include the Nova Bus LFS Artic , Nova Bus LFS , and New Flyer XDE60 .
Previous route maps
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Summary
Major Stops
| Major Stop | Branches | Connections | Notes | ||
Express
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Finch Station 
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953A | 953B | Finch GO Bus Terminal  
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| Yonge St. @ Steeles Ave. East | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Bayview Ave. | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Leslie St. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Don Mills Rd. | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Woodbine Ave. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Victoria Park Ave. | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Pharmacy Ave. | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Warden Ave. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Birchmount Rd. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Kennedy Rd. | 953A | 953B |
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| Milliken GO Station | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Midland Ave. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Brimley Rd. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ McCowan Rd. | 953A | 953B | |||
Local
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Steeles Ave. East @ Middlefield Rd. | 953A | 953B | ||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Markham Rd. | 953A | 953B |
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| Steeles Ave. East @ Tapscott Rd. | 953A | 953B | |||
| Morningside Ave. @ Amazon Main Entry | 953A | 953B | |||
| Steeles Ave. East @ Staines Rd. | 953A | ||||
| Staines Rd. @ Morningside Ave. | 953A | ||||
| Seasons Dr. @ Staines Rd. | 953A | ||||
Service Summary
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Frequency | Vehicles Used | Notes |
| Weekday AM Peak | 11 | 12 | 953A branch only. |
| Weekday Midday | Route does not operate. | ||
| Weekday PM Peak | 12 | 13 | 953A branch only. |
| Weekday Early Evening | Route does not operate. | ||
| Weekday Late Evening | |||
| Saturday Early Morning | |||
| Saturday Morning | |||
| Saturday Afternoon | |||
| Saturday Early Evening | |||
| Saturday Late Evening | |||
| Sunday Early Morning | |||
| Sunday Morning | |||
| Sunday Afternoon | |||
| Sunday Early Evening | |||
| Sunday Late Evening | |||
| Last updated: September 3, 2023 | |||
