New water shuttle launches on Toronto waterfront Friday
East-West Water Shuttle Pilot opens with three stops in the inner harbour. One-way trips $15, hourly departures starting 11 a.m.
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Toronto's first east-west water shuttle launches to the public Friday, offering a new way to move along the waterfront without going north-south to the island.
The East-West Water Shuttle Pilot, run by York Bay Marine Services, stops at Portland Slip, Yonge Slip, and Ookwemin Minising at Biidaasige Park. Tickets are $15 one-way for a 15-minute ride. Shuttles depart hourly from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, and hold up to 12 passengers.
Mayor Olivia Chow took an early ride and called it a "simple, scenic way" to connect key points along the inner harbour. The pilot runs for three years, June through September. York Bay Marine Services counts the project successful if it attracts 7,000 to 10,000 passengers over the summer. The company said the service is competitive with north-south island taxis and affordable for operators in other cities who've tried similar routes.
It's the first shuttle service of its kind on Toronto's waterfront — a practical addition to how people move through the city.