For years, the spaces beneath the Gardiner Expressway have been developed in fragments, resulting in short trail segments and disconnected public spaces. The Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan aims to address the current gaps by outlining a cohesive roadmap for improvements along the corridor. This includes streetscape standards that make wayfinding intuitive, predictable amenities such as seating, lighting, and rest areas that make the route welcoming for everyone.
The Under Gardiner Multi Use Trail (MUT) study, a partnership between the City of Toronto and The Bentway, is the first step in realizing these recommendations and a key component of a more connected waterfront. The study will detail a continuous 7-kilometre trail for walking, cycling, and active movement, stretching from Dufferin Street to the Don Valley – a multi-modal east-west spine that connects communities, destinations, and public spaces in one seamless experience.
from Dufferin to the DVP
An end-to-end multi-use trail is a key recommendation from the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan, supporting a more welcoming and walkable city, and promoting better connections between the waterfront and the city to the north.
The study will look at stitching together various trail segments across the Gardiner into one safe and accessible route extending from Dufferin Street in the west to the Don Valley in the east, passing through diverse neighbourhoods, linking waterfront destinations, and key city gateways, without the loss of any traffic lanes on major roads.
This corridor already hosts a mix of conditions: successful trail segments, informal connections, parking areas, service roads, and underutilized public spaces. The MUT Study will catalogue these conditions and identify opportunities to improve safety, comfort, accessibility, and continuity for all users, and inform a cohesive design framework and implementation strategy for future phases.
“An end-to-end under-Gardiner trail is a vital next step in the delivery of the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan. It will create a much needed active transportation corridor across the waterfront, unlock north-south connectivity at intersections and provide improved, high quality pedestrian access to the dense communities adjacent to the Gardiner – this is a critical city-building project.”
– Josh Harskamp, Design Manager, Planning & Design, The Bentway Conservancy
about the team
We are pleased to share that the team of BA Group, Fathom Studio, and O2 Panning + Design has been appointed to lead the project.
BA Group is a leading transportation engineering firm in the City of Toronto, involved in the transformation of the Gardiner, Waterfront and Railway Lands corridors for over 50 years. The Bentway has partnered with BA Group multiple times on projects including the the Bentway Islands concept development and schematic design (2024-2025), the interactive Dominoes project logistics plan (2024) and Waterfront Reconnect traffic management during construction (2022).
Fathom Studio is an interdisciplinary design studio based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Fathom has authored dozens of comprehensive multi-use trail and wayfinding plans, and designed and delivered dozens more, from regional greenways to complex downtown corridors.
O2 Planning + Design brings a deep knowledge of the local and a proven track record of delivering transformative public realm strategies in Toronto. Their ongoing work with the City of Toronto on projects like Downsview Park, will provide this project with critical insights into municipal coordination and design delivery in complex contexts.
Collectively, the team combines national expertise with deep local insight to design a trail that enhances city-wide connectivity while serving neighbourhood-level needs
“It is an honor to bring our experience and expertise, working closely with The Bentway Conservancy and the City of Toronto Transportation Services Division, to develop a multi-use trail design that will interface with many different transportation facilities and redefine how people move through and experience Toronto. Our previous work on the Under Gardiner corridor, including the Bentway Islands Concept Development and Schematic Design (2024-2025), has inspired us to keep going – to develop a smart design strategy that fills in the missing puzzle pieces of the Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan and delivers a safe and reliable active transportation route at a city-wide scale.”
– BA Group & Fathom Studio
what the study will deliver
Delivering a 7km trail starts with a strong strategy. To ensure the success of the Under Gardiner Multi-Use Trail, we will establish a framework that is coordinated with city staff and implementable by all stakeholders. The first phase of design will focus on:
- Existing conditions and gap analysis across the corridor
- Design Strategies that prioritize safety, accessibility, sense of place, predictability of amenities, and year-round use
- Phasing and implementation guidance to support delivery across the corridor.
thank you to our partners
This study is made possible through close collaboration between city-builders, designers, and public partners committed to improving mobility and public space across Toronto.
With thanks to
