Removing lanes on Gardiner not an option

THORNHILL, ON, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - There is only one option when it comes to the future of the Gardiner Expressway. CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) urges Waterfront Toronto and Toronto City Council to reject any recommendations that would remove lanes on the Gardiner Expressway.

Waterfront Toronto has released four potential options for the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway as part of its environmental assessment. The options include maintaining the expressway, or tearing it down and replacing it with a tunnel, a grand boulevard, or a new elevated highway.  Maintaining the expressway is the only option of the four proposed that would preserve the number of lanes currently available to motorists.

"We encourage Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto to move forward with the option to maintain the expressway which would include much needed improvements," said Faye Lyons, Government Relations, CAA SCO.

Reducing lanes on the Gardiner would result in a further increase in traffic. That is why CAA SCO is urging Waterfront Toronto and City Council to consider the impact on traffic gridlock and congestion as it debates this critical issue. 

"Reducing capacity on the Gardiner would also force more commuters on to Toronto's arterial roads putting the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians at risk. This would have an enormous impact not only on the GTA's economy and road congestion, but also the quality of life for residents," said Lyons.

According to Statistics Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Finance, Toronto's population is projected to grow from 2.79 million in 2012 to 3.45 million in 2036, an increase of 23.6 per cent. 

"This population forecast only emphasizes the need for dedicated and long-term transportation investment, as well as the improvement and expansion of our transit system and road network," added Lyons.

Each week, there are over 750,000 trips on the Gardiner in both directions.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering roadside services, automotive care, travel and insurance. There are more than 1.9 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and over 5.9 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance.

SOURCE CAA South Central Ontario