Transport Canada Approves Capacity Increase for Toronto Island Ferry

With the combination of lifting restrictions and rolling heat waves, most of us have a similar idea for how to spend our days outside. The beach! But, if you’ve tried to catch a ferry or a water taxi to the Toronto Islands this summer, you’ve definitely noticed the massive lineups. As a beachgoer, it’s no fun to spend the first portion of your day waiting and just to get across the harbour to the island.

Thanks to reduced capacities on the Toronto Island ferries leaving Jack Layton terminal, not many Torontonians can enjoy their usual ferry experience. Due to COVID-19, boats are operating at 50 per cent capacity, causing those longer waiting times during peak times. As a result, water taxis have been busy picking up the slack, but are definitely a more expensive alternative to the ferry.

Ferry Service Revamp

All this is about to change though as a new capacity increase for ferries has been approved by Transport Canada. The service increase allows more Torontonians to board each ferry, allowing them to shuttle more people to and from the various stops on the island daily.

Fort York City Councillor Joe Cressy, shared the announcement that Transport Canada approved the city’s request to ramp up capacity on island-bound ferries. According to the councillor, the change will allow more people to get to the island (and more quickly) to enjoy “critical outdoor green space” this summer.

The increased ferry service to Toronto Island will help with the congestion and long waits city-side during those prime beach days.

FEATURE IMAGE:  Narciso Arellano, Unsplash