Toronto City Council has approved a $92 million investment for the construction and delivery of two new fully-electric ferries to replace older vessels for the Toronto Islands, expected to arrive by late 2026 or early 2027.
The new ferries will replace two 50-year-old ferries, promising to save fuel and provide state-of-the-art transportation.
- Interim Solutions: Councilor Paula Fletcher mentioned plans to lease retired electric ferries from Kingston to reduce wait times during the transition.
- Enhanced Capacity: The new fleet will include a passenger and vehicle ferry with ice-crushing capabilities, accommodating up to 1,300 passengers without vehicles or 650 passengers and 14 vehicles. This will replace the current Ongiara ferry.
- Passenger-Only Ferry: A second ferry will handle up to 1,300 passengers, replacing the William Inglis, which holds 309 passengers.
- Increased Efficiency: The new ferries will boost capacity by over 1,400 passengers per trip, aiming to eliminate long wait times.
- Additional Amenities: Suggestions include adding food trucks, entertainment, and kids’ games at ferry docks to improve the waiting experience.
The current fleet transports approximately 1.4 million passengers and over 5,000 vehicles annually, making the Toronto Islands a top summer destination.