Gardiner Expressway east vote: Who's still undecided?
The debate on what to do with the eastern Gardiner Expressway goes to city hall next week, and by Friday councillors remained virtually deadlocked.
CBC's latest count has 16 councillors in favour of tearing down the crumbling Gardiner east of Jarvis Street, including Coun. Ana Bailão who threw her support behind the plan today.
- Gardiner Expressway: What you need to know about the options
- Torontonians support Gardiner tear-down, poll finds
Meanwhile, 15 councillors are backing the "hybrid" option — which would remove part of the highway but maintain the elevated section west of the Don Valley Parkway — that's being pushed by Mayor John Tory.
There are still 14 councillors undecided.
Campbell said he thinks tearing down the Gardiner will create more traffic congestion than the "remove" side admits, but he's also critical of the hybrid plan, which he called "barely satisfactory."
The first-term councillor said he thinks the entire process has shown a "lack of creativity," and added whatever design city council chooses will likely be modified in the months after the vote.
Campbell admits it's a difficult choice, but he said he doesn't feel any pressure. He is, however, expecting a busy week of speechmaking at city hall ahead of the Friday vote.
Who's backing the tear-down?
- Many councillors of many downtown wards.
- Current and former chief planners Jennifer Keesmaat and Paul Bedford.
- A group of major property developers.
- Former Toronto mayor David Crombie, a group of Toronto MPs.
Who supports the hybrid option?
- Mayor John Tory.
- Councillors of many wards outside of the core.
- Public works chair Coun. Jaye Robinson.
- The Canadian Automobile Association and Ontario Trucking Association.
The chart below shows how councillors are planning to vote as of Friday.
