There may be a new way for Foothills residents to head to the mountains this summer.
On-It Regional Transit and Parks Canada are working together to develop a day trip transit service to carry passengers from communities in the Calgary region to Canmore and Banff. The buses could run for 10 to 12 weeks on weekends and holidays over the summer.
Ettore Iannacito, Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) transit program manager, said the plans are still in preliminary stages. Routes, fees, and exact dates have not been finalized.
“We’re exploring the opportunity and trying to see how we can possibly do it, so it is very early stages for sure,” he said. “We’re just working quickly and we’re trying to come up with some possible draft options.”
The partnership’s On-It transit service already provides morning and afternoon commuter transit connecting Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond and Turner Valley to Calgary’s Sommerset/Bridlewood LRT station.
Iannacito said the idea of service to Banff has garnered the support of the CRP’s board, which gave the go-ahead to examine the possibility of offering recreational service to Banff National Park for Canada’s 150th anniversary.
With park entry being free for 2017, Parks Canada anticipates an increase in traffic heading to the mountains this summer. Offering transit service to Banff can help alleviate traffic congestion in the town site, said Iannacito.
“Our target would be mostly day-trippers, and we think it’s just a great opportunity for us to provide another regional type of service,” her said.
He said residents in CRP member municipalities, including Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Calgary, Airdrie, Strathmore and Airdrie, can benefit from the service if they want to visit the national park this summer without the hassle of driving and parking in the town site.
“We feel it’s a great opportunity for On-It to be a truly regional system,” said Iannacito. “We’re pretty excited about it, we think it’s a great opportunity here and I think that if it does come off, it’s a benefit to everyone.”
There is talk that some buses to Banff could originate or stop in Okotoks, but nothing is set in stone, said Okotoks Mayor Bill Robertson
Robertson, who is the CRP’s chairperson, said the service would be unique and beneficial for area residents who want to travel west this year, but it would also help the town of Banff.
“Last year they actually had gridlock in Banff on the main street, where vehicles couldn’t move, and they were forced to close access to the town unless you could prove residency or that you have reserved accommodation,” said Robertson. “So, with things like On-It buses, we can help alleviate some of that problem by taking some vehicles off the roads.”
He said the pilot project contract for On-It regional transit allows the use of buses on weekends, so long as it does not disrupt the weekday commuter service.
