Majority of Torontonians favour tearing down eastern Gardiner: poll

A new poll suggests most Torontonians disagree with Mayor John Tory when it comes to the best option for the elevated, eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway.

The Mainstreet Technologies survey, released on Monday, found that 60 per cent of those polled approve the plan to tear down the Gardiner east of Jarvis Street. Thirty-four per cent disapproved of that option and six per cent were not sure.

However, 54 per cent of respondents said they support the hybrid option — to rebuild the expressway “mostly as it is” — a plan that Tory and his key deputy mayor, Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong, supports. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents disapproved this option, while seven per cent were not sure.

According to the poll, 33 per cent of those surveyed said they would prefer to rebuild the Gardiner, while 45 per cent said tearing it down is favourable. Eleven per cent preferred neither option and 12 per cent were not sure.

Former mayor David Crombie and former city planner Paul Bedford will join Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell to make the pitch for the removal option at a news conference on Monday.

In May, the public works committee met to discuss the two options for the 2.4-kilometres of crumbling road — tear it down or a hybrid option that would mostly maintain the elevated roadway for a 1.7-kilometre stretch and reroute the highway between Jarvis Street and the Don Valley Parkway.

A staff report showed the cheapest option would be tearing the elevated section down and converting the road into a boulevard at a cost of just over $400 million. The hybrid option would cost over $900-million.

After 10 hours of meetings and 30 deputants speaking to the issue, the committee decided to get more information from city staff.

The Gardiner showdown begins at city council next Wednesday.

The same also found Tory’s approval rating is up two per cent to 63 per cent, while support for city council has increase seven percentage points to 53 per cent.

Mainstreet polled a random survey of 2,415 Torontonians on May 28 by interactive voice response. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 1.99 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Read the full results from Mainstreet below, or click here for a mobile-friendly version.

Toronto Issues May 2015 by Mainstreet Technologies

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