Public meeting to be held on future of Gardiner Expressway East

June 13, 2013, Toronto, ON – Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto will co-host a public information meeting tomorrow evening, as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) on the future of the Gardiner Expressway East, from approximately Jarvis Street to approximately Leslie Street. Members of the public and community stakeholders are being asked for their views on the four alternatives that will be considered within the study area, including maintaining, improving, replacing or removing the elevated expressway.

“This next phase of the EA presents all parties with the opportunity to explore what is possible and consider what they want for the Gardiner Expressway East in terms of design and function,” said John Livey, Deputy City Manager for the City of Toronto. “The EA study process will need to deliver a practical plan that is grounded in waterfront city building objectives.”

The study area represents a lower traffic density area of the highway compared to the western portion of the Gardiner Expressway. The City of Toronto has an approved budget of $495 million for overall Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation from 2013 to 2022, including the eastern end of the elevated structure.

An Environmental Assessment is a comprehensive study under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act of impacts caused by a development or changes to land use, such as changes to highway infrastructure. The Gardiner East EA process includes an urban design study that will consider the form and function of the existing and planned public spaces that neighbour the expressway in relation to the four alternatives being studied.

“Public feedback is an important part of an Environmental Assessment, particularly when you’re considering a significant highway like the Gardiner Expressway,” said John Campbell. “There is an opportunity to get people thinking about how they want to develop and revitalize this area of the City. That’s why we have so many options for public involvement in this study.”

Consistent with Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto’s approach to public consultation, a robust calendar of activities has been scheduled to engage the public and solicit ideas. The public will be able to attend meetings in person (future rounds of public meetings will also be advertised and held), or participate online by watching the live webcast, or engage in the interactive sections on the consultation website.

The Public Information Meeting will be held:

Thursday, June 13, 2013
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(open house starts at 6:00 p.m. with presentations to follow at 6:30 p.m.)
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Room 701, South Building
222 Bremner Boulevard

Please register for the event on the consultation website.

Image Gallery: A sample of images from the Urban Design Study that will be shared at the public consultation meeting is available upon request.