Expressway plans continue to move at snail’s pace

By Kimberly Spice —

After 20 years of studies and evaluations, the city and Waterfront Toronto took what seems to some to be a step sideways instead of toward making a final recommendation about whether and how to tear down the Gardiner Expressway.

A public forum held at the Harbourfront Community Centre on April 2 provided Torontonians with an overview of the latest Gardiner reconfiguration. More than 50 people were on hand to learn the latest changes to the proposed process of the environmental assessment (EA) report, as well as the current plans for an urban design study that will form part of the city’s plan to develop a world-class waterfront.

Waterfront Toronto’s Kevin Bechard, director of environmental assessments, pointed out that plans remain in a preliminary stage and that any conclusions about the final design have not been decided. Plus, any design recommendations going to the Ministry of the Environment remain years away from execution. The framework of the EA must be decided first before any next step can be taken.

“Certainly there are a lot of viewpoints and we are receiving those comments and they are starting to form the study,” Bechard confirms. “But in terms of where we are in the study process now and until the end of the year it’s really about defining how this study will go forward.”

Design proposals were not put forward at the April 2 meeting, although some ideas were presented to the crowd. These included proposals to keep an upgraded and maintained Gardiner in place, to building a new structure or tunnel, and to replace it with a grand boulevard.

The boulevard idea was met with some trepidation.

“There is potential for a new Lakeshore to not be pedestrian friendly,” said Mark, one of the interested citizens during a roundtable discussion. “It becomes too wide. The potential is to have separate east- and westbound Lakeshore lanes with some sort of development in the centre so it’s not just one massive boulevard that pedestrians are crossing.”

Participants in the roundtable also expressed concerns about problems that the elimination of the circular road system around the city might create, such as traffic congestion, pollution, and the ecological impact to the Don River and the surrounding area. They were assured that the EA would consider all of their concerns.

To comment and for information, visit www.gardinerconsultation.ca.