[crs1026]

I'm not in favour of moving the ferries into TTC. The ferries do not align to the major challenges and functions that TTC is grappling with. The ferries are not a core transit function for the city, and would only be a distraction for TTC managers and Board. I would continue as a separate and experience/attraction based focus. MaYbe Ford can find a friend who can run them better.... the Segwin team sure knows how to run boats. Maybe even Disney.

If we can't achieve fare and payment integration across multiple agencies without combining agencies, then Presto is a failure. BTW, Presto is a highly expensive fare collection medium.
Paper tickets and transfers is still waaay cheaper. I'm not saying we should abandon Presto for transit, but for "peripheral" purchases, a Tims card or a debit card will do the job fine for much less cost. Unless one is going to argue for free transfers to the ferry system (which strikes me as a bad thing, ie it would siphon transit revenue towards the periphery) the data exchange which (supposedly) is enabled by Presto has little value add for the ferry. Just price the ferry appropriately. Unlike my Scene card, which lets me buy movie tickets and pay for popcorn as well, Presto is not a good medium to buy your morning coffee at the GO station.

I agree that the ferry procurement is a failure, but that's thanks to the failure of municipal administration and politics, which has piled on virtue signalling where sound pragmatic cost-focussed management ought to take precedent. Water transport is inherently low energy and the carbon created by a handful of smoky diesel ferries is not going to ruin the planet. More gains in spending the same money curbing leaf blowers or buying more electric work vehicles for the city fleet.

- Paul

 

[Towered]

The decommissioned ski hill?

Triple its height using excavated dirt to actually make it a slightly acceptable skiing venue and re-open it!

 

[just east of the creek]

Lol, no, no....

"What was charmingly anachronistic a decade ago now looks more like poverty porn. Decaying piers, rotting coils of rope littered with cigarette butts, clouds of black smoke from the diesel stacks and, improbably in 2022, all-male crews: scores of old codgers below decks refilling cup noodles from curiously large kettles."

It's referring to their own food for personal consumption. It's a bit of a cultural dig, IMO. They don't serve food on the Star Ferry, at least not on the upper deck that I traveled multiple times on.

It sounds like you have departed, but if not, riding the ‘ding-ding’ is a treat, and of course the Peak Tram - terrific views.

And if you have the time, and are any where near the Happy Valley Racecourse, a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery is well worth a stop.

 

[Northern Light]

The Star has details from the night of the Ferry accident in which the Thomas Rennie collided with Billy Bishop Airport property inside the Marine Exclusion Zone.

What happened on a Toronto ferry the night it hit Billy Bishop airport property

The City of Toronto tried to downplay an accident April 30 that involved the Thomas Rennie ferry hitting Billy Bishop airport near the runway. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information

www.thestar.com

Read at your peril, it does not inspire confidence in anyone involved with the possible exception of the first officer of the ferry.

 

[crs1026]

^I am especially surprised that the incident apparently did not trigger a TSB investigation. Had this been a rail or air incident, there would be an investigation report with a set of recommendations and more direct public disclosure.
The writeup demonstrates why that kind of third party intrusion is essential, as the TSB is a lot less likely to go thru the internal spin that City managers went thru - any internal factfinding is inevitably tainted by pr and political considerations, not to mention liability concerns.

- Paul

 

[lenaitch]

^I am especially surprised that the incident apparently did not trigger a TSB investigation. Had this been a rail or air incident, there would be an investigation report with a set of recommendations and more direct public disclosure.
The writeup demonstrates why that kind of third party intrusion is essential, as the TSB is a lot less likely to go thru the internal spin that City managers went thru - any internal factfinding is inevitably tainted by pr and political considerations, not to mention liability concerns.

- Paul

The Star article says they did:

The investigation by the TSB, based on GPS data, reported that the boat hit a point roughly to the northeast of the airport runway, not near the seaplane ramp.

I could find anything on the TSB website. I do know they triage incidents and don't conduct a full-bore investigation on every incident reported to them; however I don't know what their criteria is. You used to be able to search 'incidents' as well as 'investigations and reports' but I no longer see the former.

 

[Admiral Beez]

It sounds like you have departed, but if not, riding the ‘ding-ding’ is a treat, and of course the Peak Tram - terrific views.

And if you have the time, and are any where near the Happy Valley Racecourse, a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery is well worth a stop.

Did them both. Plus an open top bus tour of the entire island, from Stanley, Repulse Bay, and the Happy Valley Racecourse. The last time I was in HKG in 2018 I spent about two hours at the Commonwealth cemetery. My biggest disappointment was how the HK History Museum has been rebranded as the PRC Propaganda Museum of National Security.

Back to ferries, I like how there’s a HK ferry that’s used for waterfront tours during the nightly laser light shows.

We've now got a fantastic skyline. Perhaps Toronto’s ferries can also be considered for more than island transport.

 

[just east of the creek]

Did them both. Plus an open top bus tour of the entire island, from Stanley, Repulse Bay, and the Happy Valley Racecourse. The last time I was in HKG in 2018 I spent about two hours at the Commonwealth cemetery. My biggest disappointment was how the HK History Museum has been rebranded as the PRC Propaganda Museum of National Security.

Back to ferries, I like how there’s a HK ferry that’s used for waterfront tours during the nightly laser light shows.

We've now got a fantastic skyline. Perhaps Toronto’s ferries can also be considered for more than island transport.

Now there is an idea!!

Many fond memories of the Happy Valley Racetrack.

Enjoy your trip. I may be ther ein the spring and it will be interesting to compare today's HKG with pre COVID, pre PRC takeover.

 

[Northern Light]

The City has a survey up on your opinions about the interior design of the new Ferries.

- Toronto Island Park Electric Ferry Interior Design Survey

ca.mar.medallia.com

From the above:

Heritage Blue Motif:

Contemporary Motif:

Art+Social Motif

I prefer number 3 here. I'm not settled on the black/charcoal offset colour and wouldn't mind seeing the blue tried out here...........but its not bad, good contrast.

But the 'wood' ceiling makes it for me.

 

[MisterF]

I really hate how grey is somehow associated with being "contemporary". There's nothing contemporary about a colour palette without any colour. This nonsense idea has given us way too many drab and depressing buildings and public spaces. Can this end now please?

 

[crs1026]

I especially like the long-slatted wooden benches…. A classy and slightly retro hint, and so much nicer than plastic or transit-flavour seating.
There is an outdoor deck upstairs, correct? To my mind, in decent weather the interior sections are irrelevant for a trip across Toronto Harbour.

- Paul

 

[Northern Light]

I especially like the long-slatted wooden benches…. A classy and slightly retro hint, and so much nicer than plastic or transit-flavour seating.
There is an outdoor deck upstairs, correct? To my mind, in decent weather the interior sections are irrelevant for a trip across Toronto Harbour.

- Paul

Yes.

Render:

They make it look so tiny........... capacity will be 1,300

 

[rbt]

Yes.

Render:

View attachment 660655

They make it look so tiny........... capacity will be 1,300

1300 up from 400 (capacity of William Inglis) is a large capacity boost. Of course, 400 is the reduced capacity after the rebuild: anyone know what it was originally?

 

[Northern Light]

1300 up from 400 (capacity of William Inglis) is a large capacity boost. Of course, 400 is the reduced capacity after the rebuild: anyone know what it was originally?

Took me a moment, the answer is 500.

Toronto Island Ferry History

Toronto island ferry service history.

www.angelfire.com

 

[crs1026]

Impressive compared to the Rennie, McBride, and Trillium.

- Paul