Toronto is studying a proposed 7-km multi-use trail under the Gardiner Expressway to enhance pedestrian and cyclist connectivity in the city
Study for Multi-Use Trail Under Gardiner Expressway
A study is underway to implement a seven-kilometre multi-use trail under the Gardiner Expressway. The study began in December and is expected to finish by the end of the year. Ilana Altman, CEO of The Bentway, said it will guide the trail’s planning.
“The Gardiner for a long time has been a critical mobility corridor in the city for cars,” Altman said. “But there’s no reason why the space below can’t serve our city better.”
Details of the Under-Gardiner Public Realm Plan
The trail is part of the Under-Gardiner Public Realm Plan, approved by city council in 2024. Altman noted that the early plan highlights areas for green spaces and public sites under the expressway. Establishing the trail is a key first step.
“It’s really that seven-kilometre spine that links everything up,” she added.
If implemented, the trail would serve as an active transit corridor for pedestrians and cyclists. Early maps show the trail starting from The Bentway, extending from Dufferin Street to the Don Valley Parkway, running parallel to the water.
| Trail Start | Trail End | Length | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dufferin Street | Don Valley Parkway | 7 km | Active transit for pedestrians and cyclists |
Consultation and Planning
The trail will pass through public spaces and private developments. Consulting with property owners and the city is part of the study. The Bentway and the city will work together on this study.
The study will also consider recommendations on wastewater management, trail navigation systems, and site planning, Altman said. The proposed trail would connect the downtown core, running east-west under the Gardiner Expressway.
While there is no official timeline for the trail’s implementation, Heather Inglis Baron, project manager with the city’s waterfront secretariat, noted that the under-Gardiner trail would include park-like public gathering spaces.
Revitalization Efforts
Inglis Baron mentioned that the area under the Gardiner may not be appealing now, but improvements like better lighting and planters could make it a destination. The Bentway has hosted music and art events under the Gardiner, showing the potential for such spaces.
“These have become places that people now gravitate towards,” Inglis Baron said. “They look towards having this type of approachable, friendly spaces beneath the entire corridor.”
The Bentway attracts tens of thousands of visitors each winter for its skating path. It was also chosen as the official fan festival zone for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with Fort York.
Not all of the trail will be under the Gardiner Expressway, but a significant portion will be. Altman described the path as a “relief line” alternative to the popular Martin Goodman Trail.
“With a city that’s growing at the speed that Toronto is growing, we have to be creative about where we find space to serve the citizens,” Altman said.
City Councillor’s Support
Ausma Malik, city councillor for Spadina-Fort York, called the study “exciting” in a statement to CBC Toronto. Malik expressed her commitment to making public spaces “well loved and well used.”
“This vision will continue transforming this space into a truly complete public asset — a welcoming cultural destination, a place for innovative ecological design, and a well-connected space for all who use it,” Malik stated.
