Travel Modality Trends at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Key Findings in 2024

Public transit remains a strong preference for users

• Transit use has increased significantly; it is now nearly twice as common among arriving passengers and three times as common among those departing, compared to 2018.
• The free shuttle takes passengers to/from Union Station. Demand remains strong.
• Good weather correlates with increased transit use. Data suggest that single passengers are more likely to choose transit over hired vehicles when skies are clear.
• The data also suggest that travelers prefer auto-based transportation when control over timing is important—such as arriving for a flight—while transit is seen as more appealing for return/post-arrival trips.

Active transportation and transit take top combined spot for departing users

• More than half (55%) of users now leave the airport by transit, shuttle, walking, or cycling, based on combined seasonal averages.

Overall vehicle traffic has decreased from five years ago

• Overall vehicle traffic in the immediate area has decreased significantly compared to 2018, with lower volumes observed both during peak hours and throughout the day. Along Eireann Quay and nearby queuing areas, traffic remained manageable, with only brief periods of minor congestion.
• Airport-related traffic accounts for an estimated 20–50% of volume on major nearby routes, and just 2–5% on Lake Shore Boulevard.
• Residential impact is minimal, with only about 5% of local traffic attributed to the airport.

Operational Considerations

• Competition for curbside space has increased somewhat, with double parking observed at peak timings. Operational challenges were noted as minor during the survey period.

The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport transportation survey is available for the years 2012, 2015, 2018, 2023, and 2024. Data sources include traffic and passenger counts, vehicle queue lengths, parking data and shuttle usage records.