For sale: one aged highway, many previous users, some light wear. Councillor Adam Vaughan says it's time Toronto sold off the Gardiner and implemented tolls to cover spiraling repair costs that could, if approved, reach half a billion dollars. According to the National Post, the idea "was not immediately shot down by the mayor's allies." Is this progress?
The road saw action last night when cops arrested a 22-year-old driver for traveling the wrong way on the elevated road near Islington Avenue. Impaired driving charges are pending.
Rob Ford's office may not have known much about the dangerous state of the Gardiner Expressway even though city staff and engineers were working in "emergency" mode. Documents seen by the Star raise concerns that staff were sending the wrong messages to the public about the safety of the road.
Despite a whopping implementation bill, PRESTO is here to stay. The contactless fare card has cost almost three times more than expected to implement in Toronto and Ottawa but Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig says the card will continue to roll out on the TTC as expected. Will PRESTO come into its own when the Toronto Transit Commission comes online?
A "concerned private citizen" isn't too happy about upcoming cuts to fire services in the city. A sign encouraging drivers to call Rob Ford to complain about a reduction in service has appeared on the lawn of a Scarborough fire hall.
Another new taxi company is wading into potentially murky water related to the city's car dispatching laws. TAG says it doesn't need a taxi operator's license because it contacts the dispatcher and not the drivers. Uber, a similar company, ran into trouble with licensing and standards last week over its system of sending fares directly to each car.
Toronto's most famous jacketed macaque may have been immortalized forever in ink on a local woman. Pictures on Reddit appear to show a design with the word "believe" underneath being prepared on a girl's side. What do you think - is it real?
IN BRIEF:
- Toronto elementary school teachers to stage walkout on Tuesday [National Post]
- Boy threatened while shopping at Eaton Centre, police say video [CBC]
- Downtown Toronto condo building set to include affordable rental units [The Star]
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Photo: "Gardiner and Skyscrapers" by calebwildes from the blogTO Flickr pool.