Councillor pushing for non-Toronto residents to pay tolls on Gardiner

TORONTO – Some Toronto city councillors are once again exploring the use of road tolls on the Gardiner Expressway.

Councillor James Pasternak has brought up the possibility as a way to pay for either tearing down the Gardiner east of Jarvis Street or creating the new hybrid option being considered by city council in June.

READ MORE: Keeping Gardiner as-is may no longer be a viable option, study says

The high cost of both possibilities has Pasternak looking at other sources of revenue to help the city. He’s suggesting those living outside Toronto should have to contribute, or responsibility for the roadway be handed over to the province.

The Ward 10 councillor suggests that residents of the city already pay their share through property taxes.

Removing the Gardiner East has been estimated at $461 million while the cost of the hybrid would be $919 million.

Councillor Josh Matlow suggested a report looking into road tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner for drivers living outside Toronto be put together in 2011, but council voted against it.

Pasternak doesn’t think asking for a study on methods to pay for change should delay a decision on what to do.

The debate on what to do with the Gardiner East began at the Public Works committee earlier this month and was sent to full council without any recommendations.