The trip to the Toronto Islands for some summertime fun can be quite the harrowing mission some days, with lengthy lineups for packed ferries and water taxis becoming bad enough for the City to suggest daytrippers simply stay away on nice weekends.

Between the frustrating crowds, the out-of-commission boats and ferry schedule cuts on weekends so far this season, calls for a bridge to the attraction have been renewed, with one councillor putting forward a motion for leaders to formally assess the feasibility of such a solution after years of talk.

That motion, proposed by Ward 16 Don Valley East Councillor Jon Burnside earlier this week, has now been adopted.

To be completed in 2124

— Rodd P (@RodPowers4you) June 25, 2024

Burnside recommended that the city's managers seriously look into "the option of a fixed link to the Toronto Islands" and formulate a report comparing the potential costs of such a project to the costs of continuing ferry service as planned, along with other key stats, like the number of pedestrians and cyclists that could be accommodated by each option.

He wrote that Toronto is currently "in the process of replacing [its four] ferries, but the costs have skyrocketed," whereas a bridge could "provide reliable year-round low-cost access for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles."

The councillor noted that a future viaduct could connect at a spot just east of Ward's Island, a mere 250 m from shore.

While I love the idea, this could lead to a crowd control problem. The capacity of the ferries gives a built-in limit to how many people can crowd onto the island.

— Steve Martin (@CdnSteveMartin) September 7, 2022

Though many residents seem to be in support of the idea in theory, there are worries about the potential impacts that more visitors could have on the island environment and community.

Also, about the tens of billions it would cost and the many years it would take to build in a city where construction projects always seem to be ballooning in cost and way behind schedule.

A bevy of officials tapped to contribute to the report are being asked to present it back to council early next year.