A new poll by Mainstreet Technologies reports that 60 per cent of Torontonians approve of the plan to tear down the Gardiner Expressway east of Jarvis.
The poll compared two options that have received the most consideration: removing the Gardiner east of Jarvis to replace it with a boulevard or rebuilding the Gardiner east of Jarvis mostly as it is now, also known as the hybrid plan.
In comparing the two, 54 per cent of those surveyed approve of the plan to mostly rebuild the Gardiner.
READ MORE: Councillor pushing for non-Toronto residents to pay tolls on Gardiner
“Mr. Tory will need to do more to convince Torontonians the hybrid plan he supports is best for the city,” said Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Technologies. “Support for the teardown option is spread evenly among demographic lines though it receives its highest support downtown.”
Critics of the hybrid plan say it will cost almost $450 million more than other options and will not allow for waterfront development. Comparably, tearing down the Gardiner will add to commuting times.
READ MORE: Keeping Gardiner as-is may no longer be a viable option, study says
Meanwhile, the poll found that John Tory’s approval rating is up at 63 per cent while approval for city council has also increased to 53 per cent.
The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,415 Toronto residents by interactive voice response on May 28, 2015. It has a margin of error of 19/20.
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