Public Meeting to be held on Phase II of Gardiner Expressway East Consultations

TORONTO, October 15, 2013 – Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto will co-host the next public information session on the future of the Gardiner Expressway East from approximately Jarvis Street to Leslie Street. The information session, which will take place on the evening of Wednesday, October 16, 2013, marks the beginning of the second phase of the Environmental Assessment (EA), which will consider in greater detail the four alternatives presented during phase one of the EA. The public will also be asked for feedback on the evaluation criteria that will be used to determine a preferred alternative.

“This public meeting will provide Torontonians with an opportunity to have their say about the future of this vital transportation route,” said John Livey, Deputy City Manager for the City of Toronto. “While we need to develop a practical solution that will support Toronto’s transportation needs well into the future, we know that there are a number of priorities at play, and we’re seeking input on what the public feel those are.”

The four alternatives being considered were originally presented at public meetings in June. They are:
 

• Maintain the elevated expressway;
• Improve the urban fabric while maintaining the existing expressway;
• Replace with a new above or below grade expressway; and,
• Remove the elevated expressway and build a new boulevard.

Following further analysis of each alternative, and drawing upon the input collected during phase one of the public consultations, the EA project team developed high level concepts. Each concept is illustrative of what could be created, but does not represent the final solution that will be taken forward for discussion by Council in spring 2014. The information collected from the public during phase two will help narrow down the number of concepts under consideration and determine the relative importance of a number of evaluation criteria.

The high level concepts and criteria are limited to the eastern end of the elevated Gardiner Expressway, which has lower traffic volumes than the western portion of the expressway. The western portion of the highway is already undergoing extensive rehabilitation and maintenance that will ensure the current elevated configuration will remain safe and in a good state of repair.

“The future of the Gardiner Expressway, whatever it ends up being, is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Toronto,” said John Campbell, President & CEO of Waterfront Toronto.
“We’ve come to a point in time when, due to the need for significant and costly rehabilitation to the existing eastern expressway, we must make a decision about the future and what we want for our downtown core.”

Consistent with Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto’s approach to public consultation, a robust calendar of activities has been scheduled to engage the public and solicit ideas. The public will be able to attend meetings in person, or participate online by watching the live webcast, or engage in the interactive sections of the online consultation website.

The Public Information Meeting will be held:

Wednesday, October 16, 2013
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Open house starts at 6:30 p.m. with presentations to follow at 7:00 p.m.
The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street, Toronto (Bloor Street subway station)
Please register for the event on the consultation website.

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A selection of the high level concept images are available upon request.