On Wednesday June 6 2012, Toronto City Council voted unanimously to rename the Toronto Island Ferry Terminal The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.
BIXI Docking Station steps from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal entrance.It's located at the 9 Queen's Quay West at the bottom of Bay Street.
You reach it via the walkway to the green space in-between the Westin Harbour Castle hotel and Harbour Castle condominiums.
By TTC, you can easily walk to it from Union Station, or take either the 509 Streetcar from Union Station or the 510 Streetcar ride from Spadina Station. Currently with Union Station under massive renovation, the 509 may not be running from Union.
If you wish to skip the long line-ups, try walking up the Cash Only payment booth, as many people don't realize they can do this as they just join the longest lines first.
To save time on busy weekends, show up sometime during the week and purchase ferry tickets in advance. It can save you a LOT of time especially in the Summer.
BIXI Bike Sharing Docking Station in Green Space at foot of Bay Street beside Jack Layton Ferry Terminal Entrance.You can ride BIXI to get here, as there is a docking station in the green space immediately north-west of the Ferry Terminal Entrance.
You can take your bicycle across to the Islands, but at peak times, you may have to take either of the two lesser packed ferry route destinations ( Ward's Island and Hanlan's Point ) rather than the popular one to Centre Island that everyone wants to take. No big deal, you're on a bike, just ride the few extra minutes to where you really wanted to go to anyway once you're on the other side.
On August 22, 2013 an Interactive Public Art Installation, Jack's Got Your Back "Stronger Together" memorial was unveiled. It's a tandem bicycle with the late Jack Layton in the back seat, and people can sit in the front bicycle seat.
The overall Ferry System can transport 4,000 people per hour back and forth.
About 1,000,000 people travel on the Ferries each year.
Round trip Fares ( as of August 2013 )
| Adult | $7.00 |
|
Student and Senior (under 19 with a student card and over 65) |
$4.50 |
| Junior (under 14) | $3.50 |
| Infant (under 2) | Free |
| Adult Monthly Pass | $90.00 |
| Senior/Student Monthly Pass | $67.00 |
| Junior Monthly Pass | $46.00 |
| Small Vehicle | $100.00 |
| Large Vehicle | $125.00 |
Toronto City Council Votes to rename Terminal - June 6 2012
Video includes Key Speech by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, and comments by Jack Layton's son, Sitting City Councillor Mike Layton.
Jack Layton Island Ferry Terminal - June 6 2012
Visit to the newly renamed Jack Layton Island Ferry Terminal on the afternoon of the day Toronto City Council voted to rename it after Jack Layton.
Additional Links
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Toronto Islands - Ferry Schedules & Fares - City of Toronto Website
