Foolish dream to tear down Gardiner

Here we go for real. It’s going to cost millions of dollars purely to study the impact of spending $1 billion just to tear down the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway. While it’s true the city’s estimate of the cost is merely $300 million, you are always on safe ground by tripling any government estimate.

Will doing that bring the bulk of the city which lies north of the railway tracks any closer to the waterfront? No. Will having a busy multi-lane causeway make it any easier for pedestrians to cross to and from the waterfront? No. They’d still only be able to cross where they already can.

It would likely only please the car haters on city council because it would make traffic more unbearable. Those are the ones who entertain the hallucination known as “traffic evaporation” which translates as: “If you deprive them of roads then cars won’t show up.”

The theory is they’ll take the streetcar. The reality is, if they don’t show up it’s because they’ve gone elsewhere.

But it won’t stop people from driving. People will always want to drive. Cars will get more fuel efficient and less polluting. Some day they’ll even be able to drive themselves without much intervention using intelligent steering mechanisms and implants in the roadways.

The Gardiner would be much more interesting if it stays where it is and innovative uses are made of the space beneath it. Businesses and residences could occupy many areas. There are so many more fascinating possibilities than simply building another landscaped causeway.