Infrastructure Canada has announced a series of planned bus service improvements for Banff and the surrounding area in Alberta, Canada. This includes the purchase of hybrid vehicles and the creation of a new transit express lane.
These improvements will be enabled through a combined investment of more than 13 million CAD in public transit and buildings from the federal government and municipal partners.
With this funding, up to five accessible hybrid electric buses will be deployed in the Bow Valley region. This will allow the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission to replace current diesel models. The vehicles will include extended-range capabilities to be effective in the region’s varying weather and terrain conditions.
In addition, the funding will support the expansion of services between Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise with the purchase of three accessible transit buses. These vehicles will complement the current fixed route service to help improve connectivity in these rural communities.
Banff and the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission have also partnered to establish a new transit express lane on Mountain Avenue. This lane will connect downtown with a residential neighbourhood and two main tourist areas.
What’s more, the town will benefit from the creation of a new multi-use pathway to improve connectivity to the existing local Roam Public Transit system.
Her Worship Corrie DiManno, Mayor of the Town of Banff said:This investment will add a critical transit lane, as well as bicycle and pedestrian path, in our community. It will help our leading-edge transit system to move more people faster and more effectively. We know reliable and frequent transit takes personal vehicles off of our finite road network, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and maintains our crystal clean air quality, all while improving the overall experience for the four million visitors to Banff each year and the 9,000 residents who work hard to welcome Canadians to their premier national park.
These projects aim to broaden access to transportation and improve traffic flow in the busy Banff region.
Part of this funding will also be invested in ventilation and lighting in notable local buildings to help improve the energy efficiency of these public spaces.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities said:Banff is one of the main hubs in the very busy Bow Valley region and the investments we're making in local transit projects and community buildings will make it easier and faster for folks to get to where they want to go and upgrade the efficiency of public spaces.
