Rerouting Gardiner the 'fiscally responsible' thing to do: budget chief

Rerouting the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway may be the costliest option under consideration for the crumbling highway but it is also the most fiscally responsible, according to Budget Chief Gary Crawford

During a news conference at city hall on Tuesday afternoon, Crawford said that the so-called “hybrid option” favoured by Mayor John Tory is the “most balanced and sensible approach” and would save the city money in the long term, despite carrying a hefty $919 million price tag over a 100-year-period. The estimated price tag of removing the 2.4 kilometre eastern stretch of the highway and widening Lake Shore Boulevard is $461 million over 100 years

Crawford said we need to talk about removing the expressway with the understanding of what it would cost today. The difference between costs is much lower when taken into context, he said.

“The $900 million figure includes the operating costs over the entire life span. A far more apples-to-apples comparison is the amount of money that we need in the bank to be able to fund the project today. When we take that in the hybrid option is estimated to be $336 million compared to $240 million for the removal option. That makes a difference of $94 million. That $94 million in increased cost will create a lot of jobs in the City of Toronto and will keep Toronto moving,” Crawford told reporters.

A previous study commissioned by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) suggested that removing the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway between Lower Jarvis Street and Logan Avenue could add an additional 10 minutes to the commute of those who currently rely on the highway and cost the city an estimated $37 million a year in lost productivity.

Proponents of the tear-down option, however, have suggested that the move would free up valuable waterfront real estate for development and save the city money that could be reinvested in other pressing infrastructure needs.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Crawford said that removing the highway is nonetheless shortsighted, not to mention economically irresponsible.

“Given the scale of Toronto’s projected growth we cannot afford to decide on an approach that will make it more difficult to move people, goods and services throughout this city,” he said. “The correct decision is one that will help reduce congestion, increase productivity and allow us to remain economically competitive. It is better for families, it is better for businesses and it is better for the city.”

Highway described as a 'lifeline'

Tuesday’s press conference, which was also attended by Coun. Michelle Berardinetti, came one day after a number of prominent Torontonians held their own press conference to urge council to consider tearing down the Gardiner East completely.

The event was attended by former mayor David Crombie, former city planner Paul Bedford and Ryerson University President Sheldon Levy, all of whom highlighted the experience of several other cities that decided to remove elevated highways and reaped the benefits.

“The hybrid option would in my view be building a totally new waterfront expressway. We would be the only city on earth doing that; we would be the laughingstock of the world,” Bedford said.

City council is expected to discuss the fate of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway during its meeting on June 10.

Though many councillors have refused to say how they will vote, a number have indicated their position with Joe Cressy, Pam McConnell and Sarah Doucette favouring the tear-down option and Denzil Minnan-Wong and Jaye Robinson voicing their support for Tory’s hybrid option along with Crawford and Berardinetti.

Discussing the upcoming debate on Tuesday, Berardinetti said that the Gardiner is a “lifeline and critical link” for her Scarborough constituents and must be preserved.

The Parks and Recreation Committee chair also said that rerouting the highway is the most environmentally responsible option.

“By any estimation removing the Gardiner East will lead to increased traffic congestion. Whether it is three minutes, five minutes or 10 minutes its more people sitting in their cars, sitting in their trucks and idling,” she said.

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