Latest news with #AusmaMalik
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gondola, tunnel or bridge? Toronto city council eyes improved island access
Toronto city councillors are being asked to create a task force to accelerate expanded access to the Toronto islands, work that includes long-term and pricey options like a possible bridge, tunnel or gondola to the popular park. City staff are recommending that council create the new group to accelerate access improvements to the Toronto Island Park which has over 1.8 million visitors every year. The debate comes after the city's aging ferry fleet struggled with service outages last year, sometimes resulting in long delays to access the park. "I think it's not a bad idea to explore," Mayor Olivia Chow said of options the task force could consider. "Maybe they are too fanciful. We don't know until we examine the possibilities." The mayor's executive committee approved in principle the creation of the task force last week, but city council will make the final call at a meeting that starts Wednesday. The task force will look at short and medium-term options to expand access like more water taxis and relief ferries. It will also look at long-term solutions like building a bridge, tunnel or gondola, which staff have warned could cost more than $100 million. "The constraints would not make a fixed link project impossible, but they do indicate that such a project would not be quick, simple or inexpensive," staff said of the fixed link in a report to council. WATCH | Torontonians frustrated at long lines to island ferry: Council approved the purchase of two new electric ferries to replace a pair of vessels but the first of those ships won't be delivered until next year. Staff said last year the purchase will cost taxpayers $85 million. Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, whose downtown ward includes the islands, has been pushing for expanded access to the park since last summer. The space is as close to a backyard as many downtown apartment and condo residents can get, but accessing it can be a problem, she said. "I know what an ordeal it can be to get to, especially in our peak summer months," she said. "We've heard it and we've experienced it: the lineups, the heat and sometimes the uncertainty." Councillor Paula Fletcher, who represents the neighbouring ward, which is home to the Port Lands said building a bridge, tunnel or gondola is easier said than done. The city doesn't own the land where the gap between the city and island is the narrowest — around 220 to 265 metres — and the waterway is a live shipping lane. "I'm just saying it's really a factor here that sometimes we forget about and it's still a working port," she said. Deputy Mayor Mike Colle voted against establishing the task force at the mayor's executive committee and does not support expanding access to the islands, saying increased visitor traffic will damage habitat and natural spaces. "Leave it alone," he urged his fellow councillors. "These hare-brained ideas. I mean, the only gondola I'd like to see is like the one they have in Venice."
National Post
17-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
City Hall committees warn of money woes one year before World Cup
Article content With just over a year until kickoff, it appears the City of Toronto's World Cup money is still very much in motion. Article content Article content While councillors were told last week that spending plans for the soccer bash remain on budget, they also learned City Hall is considering ways to 'reduce scope' and Mayor Olivia Chow floated the possibility that the provincial and federal governments may not come through with their share. Article content Article content As Chow put it, the soccer situation is in 'flux.' Article content The city's World Cup subcommittee on Monday elected to send its update on government funding straight to next week's City Council meeting, bypassing the powerful executive committee to give bureaucrats more time to craft a report. But Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik added the item in time for the executive committee to also discuss it the next day. Article content 'We have recently received some correspondence from the provincial government that has implications on our financing of this magnificent opportunity, so we are doing some negotiations,' Chow told the committee on Tuesday. Article content 'The cabinet has just been sworn in, the federal cabinet that is, and we don't know at this point what the new government would do,' the Mayor added. 'Hopefully, they will honour previous arrangements. We shall see. So, things are in a bit of a flux.' Article content Councillors at that meeting were told that Toronto's World Cup project was still on budget. That was only a day after Malik pressed Sharon Bollenbach, executive director of the city's World Cup secretariat, about 'progress' on the 'funding gap.' Article content Bollenbach, giving the FIFA subcommittee an update about the city's procurement plan, said work is being done to find 'prospects' for the champions table – private donors willing to give money to offset the cost of hosting the soccer tournament. Article content Article content Bollenbach also said city staffers are eyeing ways to reduce costs and 'perhaps reduce scope.' Article content The final wording of the procurement update, which City Council will vote on this week alongside the government update, recommends councillors authorize Bollenbach and the head of procurement to negotiate with vendors 'whose initial quotations exceed targets.' Article content The report Bollenbach brought to the committee on Monday shows total capital costs have grown by nearly $10 million from an estimate at the start of the year, and a contingency fund for operations has been shrunk from $30.5 million to $21 million. While it's not clear what is driving the rise in costs, the document said the pricing 'is surpassing initial estimates' after pre-construction work at BMO Field.
Edmonton Journal
17-05-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
City Hall committees warn of money woes one year before World Cup
Article content As Chow put it, the soccer situation is in 'flux.' The city's World Cup subcommittee on Monday elected to send its update on government funding straight to next week's City Council meeting, bypassing the powerful executive committee to give bureaucrats more time to craft a report. But Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik added the item in time for the executive committee to also discuss it the next day. 'We have recently received some correspondence from the provincial government that has implications on our financing of this magnificent opportunity, so we are doing some negotiations,' Chow told the committee on Tuesday. 'The cabinet has just been sworn in, the federal cabinet that is, and we don't know at this point what the new government would do,' the Mayor added. 'Hopefully, they will honour previous arrangements. We shall see. So, things are in a bit of a flux.'
Cision Canada
14-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Bike Share Toronto Comes to Toronto Islands
TORONTO, May 14, 2025 /CNW/ - The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) is thrilled to announce Bike Share Toronto is expanding to the Toronto Islands, starting on Friday, May 16. This expansion makes it easier for residents and visitors to explore the Islands in a fun, convenient and sustainable way. The service is launching with 250 bikes located at 4 stations, one each at Hanlan's Ferry Dock, Hanlan's Beach, Ward's Ferry Dock, and Centre Island Dock. In addition, a new Bike Share station has been added at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on the mainland. "We are pleased to bring Bike Share Toronto to the Toronto Islands – the single most requested location for our network," said Jarrett McDonald, Toronto Parking Authority Vice President of Operations. "Our goal is to deliver smart, accessible mobility solutions that enhance how people move through the city and getting bike share on the Islands is a great step forward in that direction." "This is very exciting news for Toronto residents and visitors alike, who now have access to the Bike Share Toronto network," said Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik. "Toronto Island Park is one of the city's most iconic destinations with over 1.5 million trips a year. This expansion of Bike Share Toronto is part of improving access to Toronto Island and better connections while there, in all seasons — one of my top priorities and a key goal of the City's Toronto Island Master Plan." To ensure bike availability on the Islands, bikes must be docked at island stations, and mainland bikes must be docked at mainland stations before using the ferry or water taxi. Island Bikes will be identified as such with a decal on the bike. Bike Share Toronto pricing is the same as on the mainland and riders can use existing memberships or purchase passes as on the mainland. For more information on Bike Share Toronto visit Bike Share Toronto. About Toronto Parking Authority Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) is North America's largest municipally-owned operator of commercial parking and manages Bike Share Toronto, North America's third largest bike share program. TPA's vision is to become the world's best provider of sustainable parking, bike share and last-mile mobility experiences for our customers, our partners, and our city.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bike Share Toronto Comes to Toronto Islands
TORONTO, May 14, 2025 /CNW/ - The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) is thrilled to announce Bike Share Toronto is expanding to the Toronto Islands, starting on Friday, May 16. This expansion makes it easier for residents and visitors to explore the Islands in a fun, convenient and sustainable way. The service is launching with 250 bikes located at 4 stations, one each at Hanlan's Ferry Dock, Hanlan's Beach, Ward's Ferry Dock, and Centre Island Dock. In addition, a new Bike Share station has been added at Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on the mainland. "We are pleased to bring Bike Share Toronto to the Toronto Islands – the single most requested location for our network," said Jarrett McDonald, Toronto Parking Authority Vice President of Operations. "Our goal is to deliver smart, accessible mobility solutions that enhance how people move through the city and getting bike share on the Islands is a great step forward in that direction." "This is very exciting news for Toronto residents and visitors alike, who now have access to the Bike Share Toronto network," said Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik. "Toronto Island Park is one of the city's most iconic destinations with over 1.5 million trips a year. This expansion of Bike Share Toronto is part of improving access to Toronto Island and better connections while there, in all seasons — one of my top priorities and a key goal of the City's Toronto Island Master Plan." To ensure bike availability on the Islands, bikes must be docked at island stations, and mainland bikes must be docked at mainland stations before using the ferry or water taxi. Island Bikes will be identified as such with a decal on the bike. Bike Share Toronto pricing is the same as on the mainland and riders can use existing memberships or purchase passes as on the mainland. For more information on Bike Share Toronto visit Bike Share Toronto. About Toronto Parking AuthorityToronto Parking Authority (TPA) is North America's largest municipally-owned operator of commercial parking and manages Bike Share Toronto, North America's third largest bike share program. TPA's vision is to become the world's best provider of sustainable parking, bike share and last-mile mobility experiences for our customers, our partners, and our city. SOURCE The Toronto Parking Authority View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
