Northern Light said:
@PL1 @irishboy @Dan416

Until 1962 the Ferries were run by the TTC.

At that time control was shifted to then Metro Parks.

Time to un-do that move. Not that the TTC has been an exemplar of good management in the post Byford years..........but Parks has problems on another level.
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Imagine how much faster and more efficient it would be if you could just tap your Presto card. That would be fantastic. Of course there is still the issue of limited capacity of the ferries, but just from a customer service perspective it would be a huge improvement.
 
Dan416 said:
Imagine how much faster and more efficient it would be if you could just tap your Presto card. That would be fantastic. Of course there is still the issue of limited capacity of the ferries, but just from a customer service perspective it would be a huge improvement.
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Worth adding, many agencies other than TTC use Presto and there is no reason Parks couldn't adopt it as well, even if they keep control of the ferries, though someone would have to offset any revenue loss from Mx getting their cut and/or a lower fare.
 
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during the Queen's Quay revitalization from a few years back there were a couple items that never made it to the final design. now that we are redeisgning the ferry terminal, i wondered (hoped) they could be brought back. the ferry terminal is going to look amazing so i think it's important to continue that high quality design aesthetic is kept up everywhere or it will look unfinished

1. There was to be a Totem pole sign post at the ferry enterance, which provded wayfinding and looked fabulous. i'd love to see this brought back

2. please, please, let's add grass to the streetcar tracks. i understand this was part of the oringinal plan. let's bring it back if possible!
 
This is an interesting development, has the City finally found a sponsor to improve the Terminal? Something to watch for when it's posted!!

CC28.4 - Update on Electric Ferries Shoreside Infrastructure and Ferry Terminal Improvement Projects​

Consideration Type: ACTIONWards: All

Origin​

(March 19, 2025) Report from the City Manager

Recommendations​

The City Manager recommends that:

1. City Council receive this report for information.

Summary​

The purpose of this report is to advise that the City Manager will be submitting a report that provides an update on the Electric Ferries Shoreside Infrastructure and Jack Layton Ferry Terminal improvement projects to City Council for its meeting on March 26, 27 and 28, 2025.

Background Information​

(March 19, 2025) Report from the City Manager on Update on Electric Ferries Shoreside Infrastructure and Ferry Terminal Improvement Projects (CC28.4)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-253647.pdf
 
This on WT website may be a clue!!

Request for Proposals (RFP) #2025-05: Jack Layton Ferry Terminal Shade Structure Design, Fabrication, and Installation (OPEN)
Waterfront Toronto (legally known as Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation) invites all qualified firms to submit a Proposal for the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal Shade structure – Design, Fabrication, Installation and Maintenance Services, as further described in Section 6, Project Requirements and Deliverables. The purpose of this procurement is to engage a qualified proponent to provide design, fabrication, installation and maintenance services for a fabric sail shade system to be in place by June 26, 2025. To view this opportunity, please visit Waterfront Toronto's Bonfire Portal website(Link is external) at https://waterfrontoronto.bonfirehub.ca
 
DSCToronto said:
This on WT website may be a clue!!

Request for Proposals (RFP) #2025-05: Jack Layton Ferry Terminal Shade Structure Design, Fabrication, and Installation (OPEN)
Waterfront Toronto (legally known as Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation) invites all qualified firms to submit a Proposal for the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal Shade structure – Design, Fabrication, Installation and Maintenance Services, as further described in Section 6, Project Requirements and Deliverables. The purpose of this procurement is to engage a qualified proponent to provide design, fabrication, installation and maintenance services for a fabric sail shade system to be in place by June 26, 2025. To view this opportunity, please visit Waterfront Toronto's Bonfire Portal website(Link is external) at https://waterfrontoronto.bonfirehub.ca
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Maybe you should pop by the site meeting......

Mar 25th 2025, 11:00 AM EDT - Mar 25th 2025, 12:30 PM EDT
 
Received this at my apartment yesterday:

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It's so sad that 10 years later this project hasn't gone anywhere. I was so looking forward to this (and John St) as major needed renewal in the city.

@AlexBozikovic's great column today related to the thread:

www.theglobeandmail.com

Toronto’s public spaces need results – not more plans​

Mayor Olivia Chow announced new measures to make it easier to get to the city’s islands. But meaningful change is still a long way off
 
Here, there is some good news. The city is working with Waterfront Toronto on “interim improvements to the ferry terminal over the next couple of years,” said Carol Webb, the organization’s senior manager of communications and public engagement. This year will bring a temporary shade structure, some murals and some “improvements to queuing and wayfinding.”
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Am I supposed to be excited about that? /s Ah yes, when in doubt put a mural in.

AoD
 
Alex's column above is a good one.

We would have some minor disagreements over some details......but the gist is spot on:

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Yes, 100x over.

While that above budget is too small by about 1/3, About 1/3 of it is wasted on plans/studies/consultant enrichment schemes, nest feathering and empire building, along with some incredibly questionable projects and or excessive spending to deliver same, then leaving other, better, more important ideas shortchanged.

***

Alex also mentions the unfinished elements of Nathan Phillips Square and the never really started Ferry Terminal....to which I would glaringly add Union Station (where's my Great Hall Lighting??)

While many big projects are important, if prioritized tomorrow, they might still take years to deliver. But Alex rightly notes, not everything needs to be a big deal. Sometimes remarkably small investments can yield enormous positives in both perception and reality.

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Amen!

There is a Washroom Strategy lurking around Parks somewhere that's long overdue..........will we see it by summer? Will it even propose doing anything in the 2026 Capital Budget, which is being put together right now?
 
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Northern Light said:
There is a Washroom Strategy lurking around Parks somewhere that's long overdue..........will we see it by summer? Will it even propose doing anything in the 2026 Capital Budget, which is being put together right now?
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Many folks who where forced to use the "backs" of a public washrooms in parks out of desperation because the doors to it are oft locked...I am pretty sure it becomes more of an unsanitary health issue when this city is densifying, to put it mildly. To which I am also sure would likely be easier on the public budget if they kept the bloody things opened and maintained at the end of it all.
 
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UtakataNoAnnex said:
Many folks who where forced to use the "backs" of a public washrooms in parks out of desperation because the doors to it are oft locked...I am pretty sure it becomes more of an unsanitary health issue when this city is densifying, to put it mildly. To which I am also sure would likely be easier on the public budget if they kept the bloody things opened and maintained at the end of it all.
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How difficult is it for the city to hire and staff custodians for public washrooms? How difficult is it for the city to hire and staff people to just walk around sweeping up garbage? This isn't rocket science.
 
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