Toronto ferry terminal now under construction for massive months-long project
As we look ahead to a time when ferry service to the Toronto Islands will be more efficient, reliable and frequent enough to accommodate the immense (and growing) crowds who head across the water during the warm-weather months, ground has finally been broken to prepare the waterfront for our fancy new fleet of watercraft.
After months of planning and preliminary work, the City announced this week that construction at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal has officially begun, with fencing now blocking off some of the areas where crews will install key infrastructure needed to dock and charge the electric vessels heading our way in 2026 and 2027.
The boats — though expensive — will be a welcome upgrade, being quieter, more eco-friendly and, of course, more modern, along with having increased passenger capacity than our current ferries (which range in age from just over 60 to a whopping 114 years old).
As the shoreside project kicks off, the City promises that crews will make "every effort to minimize inconveniences and ferry service disruption to and from the islands during this construction period."
The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is entering its electric era! Construction has started and we’ve carefully planned this work with @_CreateTO so that regular ferry service can continue during the busiest months.
— City of Toronto 🇨🇦 (@cityoftoronto) June 15, 2025
Get info and updates at: https://t.co/HBwhjzP37o ⛴️⛴️ pic.twitter.com/ijJuJoPp1q
While the docks are revamped, the City is taking the time to complete other "passenger experience and safety improvements" throughout the overall terminal as well to bring it into 2025.
The first stages of work taking place this season will impact the eastern side of the hub, inclusive of the "vehicle and passenger (Ongiara) ferry dock and adjacent areas."
A notice outlines that, specifically, "existing sheds and tanks will be removed from the site and electrical infrastructure will be built, all behind fencing in a controlled site." Mooring infrastructure will also be completely replaced and dockwalls, repaired.
This work will take place from this summer through to winter 2026.
Toronto to spend a combined $135 million on new island ferries and other upgradeshttps://t.co/f2Xr5rwUAE
— blogTO (@blogTO) July 26, 2024
Meanwhile, renovation of the western portion of the terminal (including the passenger ferry docks and adjacent areas) will start in winter 2025 and last until winter 2026, and entails replacing all existing in-water structures, as well as installing automatic shore charging towers and all associated equipment for the new ships.
A third work zone will also be set up in the Eastern Laneway, including the road adjacent to the Westin Harbour Hotel, in the coming months, with work set to commence after summer's end and occur in stages to keep the laneway open.
Throughout all this, the City warns residents that one boat, the Ongiara, which accommodates vehicles, will be removed from service from September to December 2025 (after peak season).
Though regular passenger service will be maintained during this time, drivers will need to utilize the Billy Bishop Airport Ferry to get across the lake.
Locals are also advised that "dust, noise and other inconveniences" may occur throughout construction.
Toronto Island ferries were a mess again this weekend and people are calling the City out https://t.co/qzXSek1hR0
— blogTO (@blogTO) June 17, 2024
It is worth noting that Toronto's recent ferry projects have been a long time coming, with rising costs to boot, like a staggering $67 million price jump for the watercraft themselves and millions more for the retrofits on shore, in part because staff "forgot" to factor in charging.
This past March, the City shifted responsibility for ferry operations to its Fleet Services division from the Parks and Recreation department in line with a third-party audit on how to improve the system.
While we await the arrival of the new watercraft in late 2026-2027, the City is looking at borrowing temporary relief ferries and adding more water taxi licences, though there are apparently already issues with docking space.
