Ahoy, Toronto’s East-West Water Shuttle Has Officially Left the Dock! Here are 3 things you need to know

PUBLISHED: JUNE 5, 2026
 

In This Article:

• The East-West Water Shuttle pilot has officially launched!
• The new pilot initiative is designed to assess ridership between east and west destinations and inform decisions about the long-term potential of east–west marine transit along the waterfront. 
• The pilot is a partnership between Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto and the Toronto Port Authority, and operated and funded by York Bay Marine Services (YBM).  
• Discover the three stops along Toronto's Inner Harbour: Portland Slip, Yonge Slip, and Ookwemin Minising (Biidaasige Park).
• Learn about the operational deatils of the water shuttle pilot.
• Visit eastwestshuttle.ca for more information and to book your trip.
   

Toronto's waterfront just got a whole lot more connected. The East-West Water Shuttle pilot initiative has officially launched, marking an exciting milestone for both our waterfront and the city's future vision for marine transportation. Here are 3 things you need to know before you board. 

1. What is the East-West Water Shuttle?

The East-West Water Shuttle is a pilot initiative designed to assess ridership between east and west destinations and inform decisions about the long-term potential of east–west marine transit along the waterfront. This shuttle is not intended to replace land-side transit – rather an alternative option. For both visitors and Tortonian's alike, the shuttle is a way to experience the waterfront from a different vantage point while traveling where you need to go.
 

The pilot responds to the Movement stream of the 2020 Marine Use Strategy, an initiative led by Waterfront Toronto in partnership with the City of Toronto, Toronto Port Authority, and Toronto Region Conservation Authority. The strategy calls for "more connections to more destinations" and expanded public marine transportation along Toronto's waterfront. One of the action items from the strategy was the SeaBus Feasibility Study, which outlined a phased approach to testing east–west water-based transit, drawing on models from other major waterfront cities. The East–West Water Shuttle Pilot emerged from that study as a first step to better understand ridership demand, operational requirements, and service performance.

The water shuttle pilot is a partnership between Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto and the Toronto Port Authority, and operated and funded by York Bay Marine Services (YBM). Selected through a competitive procurement process, YBM has more than 20 years of experience in Toronto Harbour and manages multiple waterfront facilities, including the Kiss n' Sail at Yonge Slip, Toronto Island Marina, Island Yacht Club, Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre, and marina infrastructure on the Toronto Islands. 

2. The Stops

The pilot service connects three stops along Toronto's Inner Harbour, linking some of the waterfront's most active destinations by water:

Portland Slip: Located at the base of Dan Leckie Way, just east of Bathurst Street. This is a new stop for the pilot and is conveniently close to Billy Bishop Airport — although the stop is not at the airport itself. It's also a great jumping-off point for FIFA Fan Fest activities or a game at Exhibition Place.

Yonge Slip: Centrally located along the Inner Harbour, this stop puts you steps from Harbourfront Centre, Sugar Beach, and the heart of the waterfront.

Ookwemin Minising: Located on the west side of Biidaasige Park, just west of Commissioners Street. Biidaasige Park opened last summer and the next phase is set to open in the coming months, with a lot of exciting programming planned. 

3. Operational Details

The shuttle runs from Portland Slip to Yonge Slip to Biidaasige Park (Ookwemin Minising), and back again in reverse. The one-way fare is $15, comparable to existing water taxi services in the harbour.
 

Initial service hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with shuttles departing hourly. Each vessel accommodates up to 12 passengers, and you can bring your stroller along for the ride. When demand picks up during peak hours, a second and third shuttle will be introduced with departures every 30 minutes or sooner. The schedule will be assessed after the initial rollout, with adjustments made based on demand.

Please note that service may be suspended or delayed due to weather, wave conditions, or ship activity in the channel. If this happens, affected customers will be contacted directly, and updates will be shared on our social media channels.

Thanks to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Legacy Program, fares on FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto Match Days and all weekends in June will be $5 for a shuttle between Ookwemin Minising and Portland Slip, with extended service hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Booking your ride: Tickets can be purchased online at eastwestshuttle.ca at least one hour in advance, or in-person at the docks. While walk-up traffic will be accommodated based on remaining capacity and partnered water taxi operators, we recommend securing your ticket in advance online to guarantee your spot.

Ready to hop aboard? Visit eastwestshuttle.ca to book your trip and experience Toronto's waterfront from a whole new perspective this summer!