The fate of the eastern Gardiner Expressway will ultimately be decided by Toronto council, but a joint report released Wednesday by the city and Waterfront Toronto favours tearing it down.

The environmental assessment report said removing the deteriorating 2.4-kilometre portion east of Jarvis and replacing it with an eight-lane ground-level boulevard with a central median would create more benefits in the areas of planning, the public realm, pedestrian uses and cycling — just some of the 60 criteria being considered.

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The one drawback for removal would be added commute time for drivers. They could experience an increased travel time of 10 minutes each way, and more if transit options such as the TTC’s relief subway line don’t come to fruition.

The other three options considered were maintaining the Gardiner, improving it, or replacing it. These three options had higher price tags and, according to the report, fewer benefits than tearing it down.

John Livey, the city’s deputy manager, wouldn’t say that tearing down the Gardiner was the preferred option, but he did say that anyone looking at the report would probably think that.

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