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Toronto’s waterfront gained a new transportation option this week as officials gathered yesterday at the Ookwemin Minising dock beside Biidaasige Park to launch the East-West Water Shuttle Pilot. Representatives from Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto, the Toronto Port Authority, and operator York Bay Marine Services marked the start of the seasonal service, which began public operations today.
The pilot links three docks along a four-kilometre route across Toronto’s Inner Harbour: Portland Slip near Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Yonge Street Slip in the central waterfront, and Ookwemin Minising in the Port Lands, providing direct access to Biidaasige Park. Operating daily from 11 AM to 7 PM through September, the service uses vessels carrying up to 12 passengers, with trips taking approximately 15 minutes between stops and roughly 30 minutes end to end. Regular fares are $15 plus tax, while discounted $5 fares and extended evening service will be offered during FIFA World Cup match days and weekends between June 12 and July 2.
“For the first time, Waterfront Toronto is connecting key points along the Inner Harbour by water,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “Toronto’s waterfront has always been one of our greatest assets, and today we make it a little easier to enjoy.”
The pilot stems from a broader effort to expand transportation options along Toronto’s waterfront. Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto, the Toronto Port Authority, and other partners identified marine transportation as a priority through the 2020 Marine Use Strategy, while a subsequent feasibility study recommended testing east-west harbour transit through a pilot program. The service is intended to gather information on performance, ridership, operational requirements, and long-term viability as waterfront neighbourhoods continue to grow.
“It is a first step towards what we hope will eventually grow into a more robust sea bus system that connects into the greater transit system in the city, and we think the potential for that is really significant,” said Chris Glaisek, Waterfront Toronto’s Chief Planning and Design Officer.
The launch comes as redevelopment continues across Toronto’s waterfront, particularly in the eastern precincts where new parks, housing, employment districts, and public infrastructure are reshaping former industrial lands. Officials noted that projects in East Bayfront, Quayside, the Port Lands, and East Harbour are expected to bring tens of thousands of residents and jobs to the area in the coming years, increasing demand for additional transportation options.
“This water shuttle is part of that connection to communities; it connects destinations,” shared George Zegarac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waterfront Toronto, “and it reconnects us to the lake itself. It’s another step in our evolution from being a city by the water to truly becoming a city on the water.”
The three-year program is intended to evaluate whether expanded marine transportation could play a larger role in Toronto’s transportation network. Ridership, operational performance, and customer feedback will be monitored throughout the pilot, with the ability to add vessels if demand exceeds the capacity of the initial boat.
“This pilot is about more than just a new service; it’s about learning, it’s about testing, and it’s about gathering the insights that we need to shape the future of waterfront mobility,” noted RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority.
York Bay Marine Services was selected to operate the pilot following a competitive procurement process announced earlier this year. The company has more than two decades of experience in Toronto Harbour and manages several waterfront facilities, including the Yonge Street Slip Kiss n’ Sail dock, Toronto Island Marina, and Island Yacht Club.
“The East-West shuttle will connect more people across our harbour, opening up new destinations and new experiences to explore that make our waterfront even better every single day, and especially in the summer season,” said Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik.
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