Someone's proposing a bold new solution for Toronto's island ferry issue

With only a few more weekends left in the short Toronto summer, you can bet that the city's islands will be busier than ever as we move into August — which won't be pretty, based on the way ferry service has been this season.

Even with new electric boats on the way and loaner relief ferries likely coming in the interim, many are demanding better long-term solutions as Toronto, and demand for basic services like access to the island, continues to grow.

As a kid, I loved the journey by ferry to the islands. It added to the overall experience. And perhaps this service should remain for that and other reasons.

But it's also time for a bridge or tunnel. Give people the option of avoiding the insane crowds.

— JJ (@Jenkins20Jarvis) July 22, 2024

A pedestrian bridge is one alternative that has attracted a lot more support lately, with council adopting a motion late last month to look into the feasibility of such an option (though some have their doubts). Now, someone has come up with a different concept that is even bigger in scope.

Finance and technology consultant and writer Eric Lombardi took to X on Monday to float the idea of an LRT extension around the entire archipelago, connecting from Bathurst Quay across to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, around the south backbone of the islands and across the Eastern Gap, the site of the proposed bridge connection.

"Connect the waterfront LRT, or even the 504. Dedicated LRT from the island airport right to downtown and vice versa," he wrote. "Easy access to Toronto's best urban parkland. Loop with Portlands LRT. 20 years from now, we will not regret it."

He added that it would guarantee easy, cheap, year-round public access to the parks, and while many liked the plan in theory, some pointed out that the dream is certainly not foolproof.

Seriously. Why not.

Connect the waterfront LRT, or even the 504. Dedicated LRT from the island airport right to downtown and vice versa.

Easy access to Torontos best urban parkland. Loop with Portlands LRT.

20 years from now, we will not regret it. https://t.co/ncCHUWj9IT pic.twitter.com/khKdGwqpzN

— Eric Lombardi (@EricDLombardi) July 29, 2024

Some brought up flooding, while others expressed concern over the ridiculous costs of such a project, as well as the area's sensitive environmental lands; especially seeing as Lombardi tacked on the very unrealistic and not-at-all popular proposition that parts of the islands could be rezoned for highrises.

"I'm all for better island connections but this is literally a train to to nowhere for the better half of a year," one person contended, which in turn begged the question of if we would utilize our islands better in the colder months if there was more convenient and realiable access to them.

I do think that connecting via a bridge/tunnel for foot traffic is the best value play that combines with better ferry and water taxi infrastructure to get folks through in the summer

But even that would be a few hundred million from downtown to the island

— Leo Erlikhman (@leoerli) July 29, 2024

Though the poster added that he's not "100 per cent serious" about the idea, he did write that it's about time the City consider bold new recommendations and the attitude of "why not?" in addressing issues like these. 

"Great urban parks have low friction access. Ferry is nostalgic. Island airport should be connected better to transit. We're building out Portlands. Not crazy," he wrote.