Toronto's island ferry service set to finally get better this year

This current spring-like weather may have residents of Toronto already dreaming about all of their summer plans, which, for many, will include at least one trip to the islands to enjoy some sand, sun and swimming in one of the city's largest parks and top warm-weather attractions. 

Unfortunately, the best weekends for heading to the islands are more often than not marred by the onerous task of actually getting to the archipelago — which should actually be easier this summer for multiple reasons.

Seemingly every time in recent memory that a beautiful long weekend has come around, sticky, frustrated masses are left lining up for hours to board one of the City's decades-old ferries, which are progressively more prone to mechanical issues and breakdowns.

Along with contemplating a potential bridge to get people across the harbour, the City signed on to invest $135 million in new electric watercraft and associated retrofits to our existing docks last year. Though these boats won't be ready until the end of 2026, as we wait, there are some other solutions on the way.

Mayor Olivia Chow is already looking into temporarily loaning some "relief vessels" to mitigate delays and crowds, and just this week, another major step was taken towards improving things as we head toward summer.

Instead of the City's notoriously inefficient Parks and Recreation department continuing to manage ferry operations, the responsibility will now be moved to the City's Fleet Services Division.

The recommendation comes after a third-party review that found Parks and Rec was "falling short of achieving full consistency with broader ferry industry standards or attaining best-in-class practices."

In a release on Thursday, the City confirmed it will be heeding all of that report's advice, which also includes creating a more coherent long-term vision for the ferry system and establishing a forum for regular feedback from stakeholders.

"The City is fully committed to enhancing its ferry operations and is already acting on all recommendations," the release reads. "And in the spirit of that evolution, this year, the City will be shifting ferry management from its Parks and Recreation division to the Fleet Services division, based on their expertise in the areas recommended in the review."

While the steps, as well as handing over the reins to Fleet Services, will take some time to implement, it is expected that ferry operations from the Jack Layton Terminal will already be noticeably better by this summer.