As Toronto contemplates the future of its crumbling Gardiner Expressway, columnist Christopher Hume suggests looking to Boston’s Greenway for a glimpse of what downtown might be like without the elevated eyesore.
“The Greenway, the 'roof' of Interstate 93, the formerly elevated highway that was buried in [Boston's] Big Dig project, runs through the heart of Beantown," writes Christopher Hume.
“For Torontonians, of course, the Greenway is interesting as an example of what this city might do were it to take down the Gardiner Expressway.”
“Whatever criticism one might level against the Greenway; the conclusion is not that there’s no reason to get rid of a raised highway. Boston’s problem is that it didn’t go far enough; it didn’t face its car dependency with honesty and courage, but settled for easy gestures and half-measures.”
“Still, cities around the world are removing their Gardiners. Even Toronto is contemplating razing its raised expressway … it could be the start of a transformation more profound than anything Toronto has ever seen.”
Read the full story: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/11/22/toronto_could_learn_from_bostons_big_dig_hume.html
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