A city councillor is urging his colleagues to get behind his push to build a bridge to Toronto Island, a move he says will open up one of the city’s largest parks for thousands of people who live downtown.
Coun. Jon Burnside is behind the latest bid to build what he calls a “fixed link” between the city and its island, which currently is only accessible by ferry. But access to those ferries has been strained in recent weeks and the city has budgeted $85 million to replace two of the four boats.
A motion from Burnside, coming to city council this week, asks city staff to explore the option to create the bridge and to compare the cost of building it to the “skyrocketing” costs of the continued ferry fleet service. The veteran councillor says the bridge would act only as a crossing for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles and would not open the island to more vehicle traffic.
“This isn’t a novel idea, but I think it’s time has come,” Burnside said. “We try to create this inclusive city and it feels like we have the gem of our city, the Toronto Island. But so many people don’t have access to it.”
Toronto’s ferry fleet carries more than 1.4 million passengers a year and has a combined capacity of 2,400 passengers. But the city says the current ferries are between 61 and 114 years old and are beyond the average industry lifespan.
If passed, the motion would see staff prepare a study, taking into account the number of pedestrians and cyclists that could be accommodated year-round by a bridge to the island. That report would be sent back to the city’s infrastructure committee before the next ferry procurement contract comes to council for approval later this summer.
Costs to replace ferries have ‘skyrocketed’: councillor
The city is expected to award a construction contract to a shipyard this August to replace two of its aging vessels with a pair of electric ferries, moving away from the diesel-burning boats currently in use. The ferries are expected to be delivered by 2026 and 2027.
In May, staff said the city’s capital budget includes $85 million for the ferry replacement, but could not say if that will be the final cost to taxpayers. Multiple changes to increase the scope of the contract and cost have been approved by council since 2015.
“The city is in the process of replacing those ferries, but the costs have skyrocketed,” Burnside’s motion says. “Torontonians value their parks and greenspace but were recently told not to visit the islands due to excessive demands on the ferries.”
Two of the city’s ferries are currently out of service and are expected to remain that way for several weeks. Earlier this month, the city warned people traveling to the island that they may want to explore other options to get there instead of the ferries, including water taxis or choosing another day to visit.
“We have so many people in the downtown area and the closest thing they will ever have to a cottage is Toronto Island,” Burnside said. “And we’re limiting access.”
Hopes for a debate on value for money
Coun. Parthi Kandavel, who seconded Burnside’s motion, said the restricted access to the island sends the wrong message to the city.
“It’s unacceptable that we’ve reduced service to two ferries, and we’re putting out a message to not come out to the island,” he said. “So we need a solution that’s equitable and increases access to thousands of Torontonians.”
Kandavel said he hopes Burnside’s motion kicks off a broader debate on council about the value for money of the ferry purchases when they’re compared to a new fixed link to the island.
“This begins a conversation about cost efficiency,” he said. “What’s the long-term investment? What’s the better opportunity here?”
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, who represents the ward home to Toronto Island, said she supports a “thoughtful approach” to a fixed link to the island. But she wouldn’t say if she will vote in favour of Burnside’s motion.
She stressed that the short and medium-term solution to increasing access to the island is the ferry replacement project.
“That needs to be moving forward and we have to be putting those boats into the water as soon as possible,” Malik said.
Downtown resident and former council candidate April Engelberg ran in 2022, pledging to build the bridge to the island. A 250-metre lift bridge could be built to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and also ensure cargo ships traveling to the port would still have easy access.
“It was only 250 meters,” she said recently on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. “I would say we’ve done much more complicated things in the city.”