Transportation
Why Toronto Should Tear Down Its Urban Expressway
Removing an elevated city highway doesn’t always make traffic worse—some cars just disappear.
Today the Toronto City Council will debate the fate of the Gardiner Expressway—a mile-long stretch of elevated road that cuts through the city. Local sentiments seem roughly split at the moment. The lead city planner, who’d like to replace the segment with a surface boulevard, has pushed for the Gardiner’s removal. The mayor is backing a “hybrid” option, essentially keeping the structure in place, for fear that commuters will suffer too much in its absence.
[UPDATE: The council voted 24 to 21 for the “hybrid” option, though those on the removal side said they’d continue to fight.]