TORONTO – A new campaign has rolled out aiming to garner support for the Gardiner Expressway hybrid option.
A petition has been launched after former political heavyweights backed the plan for tearing down the crumbling elevated roadway at a meeting on Monday.
A coalition called “Don’t Cut Me Off” is now urging councillors to support the hybrid option — which would see a portion of the Gardiner rebuilt.
The Ontario Trucking Association, CAA South Central Ontario, Toronto Industry Network, and the Financial District Business Improvement Area are backing the campaign.
READ MORE: Former mayor David Crombie tells Tory to tear down Gardiner stretch
Removing the Gardiner to create an eight-lane boulevard is the most cost-effective option, at $461 million, compared to $919 million for the hybrid option and $864 million to keep the aging roadway as-is.
A city staff report indicates removing the 1.7-kilometre section of the Gardiner could generate up to $150 million in the sale of unlocked land but would also add three to five minutes of travel time during the rush hour commute.
“The hybrid solution will keep people moving and open the most possibilities for new economic development, all while ensuring the least amount of disruption,” said Stephen Laskowski, Senior Vice President of the Ontario Trucking Association and coalition spokesperson in a media release.
The group has since launched a website where supporters can send “pro-hybrid” e-mails to councillors ahead of next week’s vote.
Mayor John Tory has said he is in favour of the hybrid option.
- ‘Pretty scary’: Ill Ontario man stranded in Costa Rica finally recovering in Canada
- S&P/TSX composite down, U.S. markets mixed ahead of tech earnings and economic data
- 1 deal falls through but Toronto FC completes another in Derrick Etienne Jr. trade
- Big warm-up to follow blast of cold air in southern Ontario
Comments