A company aiming to launch a hovercraft service connecting Toronto and the Niagara Region has announced a significant advancement in establishing this innovative transportation option. The newly finalized agreement with Ports Toronto will allow Hoverlink to begin operations from Billy Bishop Airport to a facility that will be constructed in Port Weller, St. Catharines.
The company declared that with its Niagara location already ready for construction, this development represents a major step forward towards initiating North America’s first large-scale hovercraft transit route. Hoverlink officials emphasized the significance of this milestone in a press release distributed on Thursday.
According to Hoverlink, the hovercraft service is designed to transport up to 180 passengers between Toronto and Niagara in a mere 30 minutes, which is considerably less than half the time required for a car journey, even under optimal traffic conditions. Additionally, the company boasts that the hovercraft can function effectively "regardless of weather or season."
Built utilizing reliable amphibious technology typically used by military and coast guard operations, Hoverlink's crafts are engineered to traverse water, ice, or land with minimal environmental disruption. The company anticipates that its new mode of transportation could potentially eliminate approximately 8,000 vehicles from the QEW highway each day when operating at full capacity.
While the concept of utilizing Lake Ontario as a transit route is not novel, previous attempts have faced challenges. A ferry service connecting Toronto to Rochester, New York, ceased operations just two years after its establishment in 2006 due to various difficulties.
Initially, Hoverlink aimed to launch its service in the summer of 2023; however, the company decided to postpone the debut to address the complexities associated with this substantial project. At that time, Ontario Place was considered as the launch site in Toronto.
Ports Toronto has stated that their 30-year agreement with Hoverlink provides confidence in the potential success of this service, citing sufficient demand, as well as the opportunity to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. Erika Potrz, president of Hoverlink, expressed optimism regarding the offering, noting that it is not merely a substantial risk. “When you've had 10 years to plan, when you've engaged in significant planning, it's not a gamble any longer," Potrz remarked in an interview with CityNews.
Although the exact pricing for this hovercraft service has yet to be revealed, Hoverlink assures that the costs will be competitive compared to those associated with driving and parking. Furthermore, the exact start date for the service remains undetermined as the necessary infrastructure and hovercraft vehicles are still in the development phase.
