Pedestrians, Cars to coexist in Toronto's Underpass Park

70 years ago, at the New York World's Fair, General Motors unveiled "Futurama" -- a plan for a 'city of the future' that focused on car-centric transportation with heavy use of grade separation to keep pedestrians and cars away from each other. It was a novel idea that never truly came to fruition.



Planners of the 1950s and 60s embraced urban freeways and a complex networks of superhighways, yet somehow forgot about pedestrian walkability, safety, and aesthetics. Fast forward to the present day, and you'll find cars and freeways have been demonized by most urban planners and left-leaning urbanites. And these frustrations are not without merit -- pedestrians don't like dealing with impatient motorists, and drivers would rather not have to slow down for their bipedal peers.

While Futurama proposed grade separation as a means of providing quick travel by automobile and a great street life for pedestrians, most North American cities are segregated into areas that are great for pedestrians or great for cars, but never both at the same time. Contemporary movements like New Urbanism paint a future where cars might eventually have no role at all.

Toronto's Gardiner Expressway is the perfect example of the clash between pro-car and anti-car movements. There are advocacy groups calling for the demolition of the 55 year-old elevated freeway, while other factions are campaigning for it to stay in place.

After years of debate, there's a glimmer of hope for motorists and pedestrians alike, thanks to a recent announcement by Waterfront Toronto. In a way, the planning committee has embraced what might be the ultimate compromise with the unveiling of Underpass Park -- a small step toward revitalizing the wasteland that surrounds a section of the Gardiner Expressway.

The 2.5-acre public space is the most extensive park to ever be built under and elevated road or overpass in Canada.

While the freeway above the park will continue to provide motorists with high speed travel and zero pedestrian crossings, the park area below will make pedestrians the priority. The park is part of a new neighborhood being built on former industrial lands in the area known as the West Don Lands. The area will feature narrow curbless roads where pedestrians take precedence over cars, explains the Toronto Star.

In places like Tokyo or Shanghai, where shops and restaurants are built under elevated expressways, Underpass Park would be nothing special. But for those of us in North America, it's a sign there might be a way for cars and pedestrians to share space in a safe and effective way. This style of urban planning offers the best of both worlds, and as car enthusiasts and part-time pedestrians, we welcome it. Construction is slated to begin in May.

References
1. 'Futurama (New York Worl...' view
2. 'A Brilliant Plan For a...' view
3. 'Traffic above, park below...' view
4. 'GM Futurama 1939-40...' view
5. 'Shanghai - Central Inte...' view
6. 'Tokyo Metropolitan Exp...' view


Underpass Park