If you’ve ever tried to commute along Toronto’s harbourfront stretch during peak summer congestion, you know that it’s a lesson in patience. Luckily, that changes this weekend!
As of Friday, June 5, 2026, the city officially launched its highly anticipated East-West Water Shuttle Pilot. Sponsored jointly by the City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto, and the Toronto Port Authority, this new transit route offers a scenic, 15-minute shortcut straight across the Inner Harbour.
Operated by York Bay Marine Services, the new shuttle route services three key docking points: the West Stop (Portland Slip) located at 585 Queens Quay W., the Central Stop (Yonge Street Slip at 1 Queens Quay E., and the East Stop (Ookwemin Minising) located at 242 Cherry St. at Biidaasige Park.
“The best way to appreciate the city is from the water with the city as a backdrop,” Mayor Olivia Chow noted during a media preview, describing the service as a practical, forward-looking way to keep the city moving.
Best of all for taxpayers? The pilot operates at zero cost to the city.
The Details
The East-West Shuttle runs hourly seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with each one-way leg taking approximately 15 minutes.
If you’re booking a standard one-way trip, an adult ticket will run you $15 (plus HST and a 3% booking fee). Because of the intimate 12-passenger capacity, booking your tickets online in advance is highly recommended to secure your seat.
To support the massive influx of football fans during the FIFA World Cup, fares drop to just $5 on match days and select weekends between June 12 and July 2. Service hours will also extend until 11 p.m. on those special days to help clear the stadium crowds.
The pilot project is locked in for an initial three-year seasonal run (operating June through September). Borrowing a page from iconic waterfront cities like Sydney, Stockholm, and Vancouver, Toronto is using this period to gauge ridership demand and figure out if a permanent, larger-scale “Sea Bus” infrastructure is viable for the city’s future.
You can find out more on their official website here.
