Banff expecting pre-pandemic visitation, traffic chaos for Canada Day & More News Here

BANFF – The Town of Banff is gearing up for main traffic jams and delays over the Canada Day lengthy weekend.

The vacationer city is expecting 30,000 to 33,000 automobiles per day, effectively over the congestion threshold for the 4 square-kilometre city, which may result in the closure of the Norquay Road entrance at sure instances.

“On Canada Day, we think we’re going to be back to 2019 volumes,” mentioned Adrian Field, the director of engineering for the Town of Banff.

“We anticipate volumes of 30,000 to 33,000 vehicles per day – that’s both entrances, both directions – and with those will come some traffic delays.”

The May lengthy weekend noticed visitation return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic ranges, resulting in delays of greater than 90 minutes as automobiles got here down from gondola and sizzling springs vacationer points of interest on Sulphur Mountain and tried to maneuver throughout the Bow River Bridge.

For the Canada Day weekend, there are advance communications going out to guests to count on delays, to warn that parking on the Sulphur Mountain points of interest is at capability, to encourage parking on the practice station intercept lot and to take public transit.

The Town had additionally deliberate on suspending the resident parking allow (RPP) for the weekend, which means guests may park in about 350 stalls reserved for residents in surrounding streets.

But mid-afternoon Wednesday (June 29), the municipality reversed the choice following a backlash from residents.

Visitors will not be allowed to park on downtown residential streets designated with “resident-only” parking indicators, which had been established final 12 months as a solution to defend spill-over from guests who don’t need to pay for parking within the new downtown visitor-pay parking areas.

Town Manager Kelly Gibson mentioned the municipality didn’t adequately talk this a part of its traffic mitigation plan to the group.

“We received overwhelming opposition from our residents. … We are acting on that feedback and we will continue to restrict visitors from parking on the designated downtown residential streets,” he mentioned.

“We are sorry for the consternation this decision caused and we hope we can rebuild the relationship with residents who rely on the Town to act in the best interests of our community.”

During Monday’s council assembly, Councillor Barb Pelham had flagged the suspension of RPP as a priority.

“It seems to be an adjustment out of desperation, which I completely appreciate, but it is a bit at the residents’ expense,” she said. “I think there’s fear that this is a real slippery slope.”

Throughout the busy Canada Day weekend, flaggers shall be stationed at key intersections on the town, together with directing automobiles to the intercept lot on the practice station, and Parks Canada could have crews on the Norquay Road intersection on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Coun. Chip Olver Chip voiced concern about traffic backing up onto the Trans-Canada Highway on the Norquay Road entrance.

“I remember a few summers ago that the Lake Louise exit off the highway would sometimes be closed off and you had no choice but to skip it,” she mentioned.

“Is that the type of thing we might be facing where we might have to close the other way into town, too, and say there’s just no room here?”

Field mentioned the municipality will not be anticipating something of that scale, though the worst case situation is that the Norquay Road entrance could possibly be closed.

He mentioned westbound traffic coming off the freeway can be directed again onto the freeway east in the direction of the Banff Avenue intersection.

“The nature of the road system there is there is a lot more space between the intersection and the Husky, for example,” he mentioned.

“There will be a lot of space for traffic to queue up.”

Field mentioned traffic information from the May lengthy weekend, when there have been traffic delays of as much as 90 minutes, exhibits that about 1,100 automobiles travelling to the gondola and sizzling springs had nowhere to park.

“The attractions were full and folks turned straight back around, adding to the congestion,” he mentioned.

“They had miserable time themselves and caused misery for other people without any enjoyment or economic benefits for anyone,” he added.

“If we had a 50 per cent reduction in that traffic, that would greatly alleviate, probably solve congestion delays.”

Mayor Corrie DiManno mentioned the large message for Canada Day is loud and clear – don’t drive.

“Do not get in your car, park the car, take transit, walk, bike – it’s a way more enjoyable experience,” she mentioned.

“Do you want to be stuck in your car and drive up a mountain and right back down… and then circle the town to try and find a parking spot? That sounds miserable to me.”

Long time period, Mayor DiManno mentioned the municipality is eager to listen to suggestions popping out of a Parks Canada-struck knowledgeable panel trying on the sustainable motion of individuals in Banff National Park.

“We are very rapidly approaching the end of the line in terms of what we can do in the Town of Banff,” she mentioned.

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