Toronto’s East-West Water Shuttle Pilot: What you need to know

Toronto’s East-West Water Shuttle Pilot is launching this summer, providing a new way for people to move across the city’s Inner Harbour.

On Tuesday, Waterfront Toronto released new details about the initiative, including the company that will operate it.

Here’s what you need to know:

The new service, piloted by Waterfront Toronto in partnership with the City of Toronto and Toronto Port Authority (TPA), will run from June to September for an initial three-year term.

It will have three stops: Ookwemin Minising, Port Lands – providing direct access to Biidaasige Park; Yonge Street Slip – serving the central waterfront; and Portland Slip / Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport – connecting the western waterfront.

The pilot aims to test the feasibility of expanded water-based transit across Toronto’s Inner Harbour. Details of the pilot, including schedules and fares, will be announced in the coming months.

York Bay Marine Services will serve as the operator for this new seasonal service.

The company, which has more than two decades of experience operating in Toronto Harbour, currently manages several waterfront facilities, including the Kiss n’ Sail at Yonge Street Slip, Toronto Island Marina, Island Yacht Club, and Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre. It also operates marina infrastructure on the Toronto Islands and has a “strong track record supporting marine access and waterfront operations,” Waterfront Toronto said in a news release.

“As Toronto’s waterfront community continues to grow, we anticipate that marine transportation in the harbour will complement land-based alternatives, which has occurred in New York, Sydney and Stockholm. York Bay is pleased to be executing this pilot project to test our confidence in people’s use of this new downtown transportation network,” Bill Duron, the chair of York Bay Marine Services, Inc., said in a news release.

This new shuttle service is a recommendation from the Sea Bus Feasibility Study, which outlined a phased approach to testing and implementing expanded east-west focused water-based transit like other major waterfront cities.

This pilot aims to be a first step to better understanding ridership demand, operational requirements, and service performance on Toronto’s waterfront.

It also uses an inclusive model that will allow for additional service providers.

Further, it supports the 2020 Marine Use Strategy, which is led by Waterfront Toronto, in partnership with the City of Toronto, Toronto Port Authority, and Toronto Region Conservation Authority.

This strategy is a long-term roadmap that “highlights ways to balance the diverse uses of Toronto’s harbour while exploring opportunities for people to more easily access and interact with the harbour, by water and by land.”

Calling for “more connections to more destinations,” Waterfront Toronto said it encourages water-based transportation options that support the city’s growing waterfront communities.

“Rooted in our Marine Use Strategy’s vision of more connections to more destinations, the East-West Water Shuttle Pilot is an exciting step toward realizing the full potential of Toronto’s harbour and a meaningful demonstration of what a world-class waterfront city can offer its communities,” George Zegarac, Waterfront Toronto’s president and CEO, said in a release.

“We’re thrilled to have York Bay Marine Services on board to deliver this important pilot, one that will help us better understand how water-based transit can serve Toronto’s growing waterfront for generations to come.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said the city’s waterfront is growing fast and new ways are needed to help people move across it.

“This water shuttle pilot is about building a more connected city, linking communities from the Port Lands to the western waterfront and making it easier for people to get where they need to go. We are investing in practical, innovative solutions that expand transit options, reduce congestion, and open up our harbour for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

The Toronto Port Authority, meanwhile, said it is a “strong advocate” for water-based transportation is the city, adding it is “proud to partner on this exciting pilot.”

“Toronto’s waterfront presents a unique opportunity to expand multi-modal access through new routes, serving both short trips along the shoreline and longer cross-city connections,” said RJ Steenstra, TPA’s president and CEO.

“Leading waterfront cities such as Vancouver, Sydney, and London have successfully integrated water-based transportation into their broader transit networks, and we are committed to exploring innovative solutions that enhance access, address congestion and keep the city and region moving.”