The Canadian Courier & Logistics Association (CCLA) supports the Hybrid option for the Gardiner Expressway East

TORONTO, May 12, 2015 /CNW/ - CCLA strongly opposes the option of tearing down the east section of the Gardiner for the following reasons:

Traffic and Economic

Removal of the contiguous connection of limited access highway between the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway will have profound negative impact on traffic movement in Toronto's already congested roads and highways.

The C.D. How Institute estimates that the cost of congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is already $11 billion annually. This would only be exacerbated by removing the east portion of the Gardiner resulting in increases to travel time and back up on the Don Valley Parkway as vehicles seek alternative exit points.

The University of Toronto's Centre for intelligent Transportation Systems report commissioned by a broad coalition of road users (Gardiner Industry Coalition) reports that the remove option would:

1. Add up to 10 minutes to an eastbound Gardiner commute, even in ideal conditions;
2. Block 1600 vehicles outside the downtown network, mainly backing up onto the DVP; and
3. Add a productivity cost of $37 million per year due to increased congestion delays.

Congestion costs at $37 million p.a. would be greater within 14 years than the estimated Hybrid option

Environmental

The city report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee erroneously suggests that the teardown option would lower greenhouse gas emissions. By replacing the contiguous limited access highway connection and moving all traffic onto a signalized road intersected by each north/south street vehicles stopping and starting will in fact increase GHGs. Large commercial vehicles in particular have significantly higher emissions while idling.

Pedestrians

Under the remove option, pedestrians crossing at the intersections would be faced by one of two scenarios:

Remove Option 1 (traffic oriented) Road Speed 70 Km/h requiring most pedestrians to take two cycles to cross with wait in central traffic island.

Remove Option 2 (pedestrian oriented) Road Speed 60 Km/h increases traffic congestion

SOURCE Canadian Courier & Logistics Association

Image with caption: "Canadian Courier & Logistics Association (CNW Group/Canadian Courier & Logistics Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150512_C5105_PHOTO_EN_16557.jpg

David Turnbull, President & CEO Canadian Courier and Logistics Association, Tel : [phone], Email: [email protected]