The pilot project\u2019s stop in the east will be at Ookwemin Minising, a chunk of land that had been known as Villiers Island before a rebranding in 2024. The eastern stop will provide direct access to Biidaasige Park, the island\u2019s landmark green space, the news release said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Unique opportunity\u2019 for the city<\/p>\n
Service is set to begin in June, but details such as schedules and fares have yet to be announced.<\/p>\n
\u201cToronto\u2019s waterfront is growing fast and we need new ways to help people move across it,\u201d Mayor Olivia Chow said, according to the release.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
R.J. Steenstra, president of the Toronto Port Authority, cited the success of similar concepts in \u201cleading waterfront cities\u201d such as Vancouver, London and Sydney, Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cToronto\u2019s 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,\u201d Steenstra said, per the press release.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED VIDEOWater, water everywhere<\/p>\n
The news follows a major funding announcement on a different waterfront transit initiative.<\/p>\n
Late last month, city hall announced it had secured federal and provincial funding for its $3-billion Waterfront East LRT project. Tim Kocur, executive director of the Waterfront BIA, told the Toronto Sun that once the project is done, the city should have a \u201ca 10-km waterfront-wide experience<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n While the cost is unusually high, city hall has emphasized that the 3.8-km LRT line will enable development of underused and historically rusty areas in the Port Lands. Kocur told the Sun that more work is being done to better integrate the eastern waterfront with the rest of the city, such as with a pedestrian bridge between Parliament St. and Ookwemin Minising.<\/p>\n North America\u2019s first rapid transit hovercraft set to launch in summer 2023 will connect Toronto and the Niagara Region in 30 minutes.<\/p>\n Keeping tabs on previous announcements<\/p>\n The water shuttle pilot project also comes as travel over Lake Ontario is having a bit of a moment.<\/p>\n Hoverlink Ontario has plans to shuttle passengers between St. Catharines and a site near Billy Bishop airport via hovercraft<\/a>. While specifics are still not available, the company said the trip should take about 30 minutes.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1c4b528fb7aa40ff9edc25543d738a29.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n