With attendance at Banff National Park steadily increasing and an influx of visitors expected this year as part of the Canada 150 celebration, Parks Canada will expand shuttle services to help alleviate traffic around the town of Banff and Lake Louise.
At Lake Louise, one of the most popular areas in Banff, free shuttles from the overflow parking lot just off the Trans-Canada Highway will run the three miles to upper Lake Louise daily from May 19 to September 10. In addition, the shuttle to nearby Moraine Lake will run daily from September 11 to October 9. Rides will begin at 8 a.m. and run until 6 p.m.
At the town of Banff, 31 miles east of Lake Louise, Parks Canada is partnering with Roam Transit to launch a two-year pilot shuttle service to campgrounds and popular day-use areas around Lake Minnewanka, a few miles outside town. Daily routes will run from the long Victoria Day weekend in May to mid-September. Buses will depart every hour from the Banff High School stop on Banff Avenue.
“This is great news. We are thrilled to have more routes to national park destinations on Roam public transit,” Karen Sorensen, the mayor of Banff, said in a release. “When the town of Banff launched Roam Transit in 2008, we envisioned it as a national park experience for our visitors – it really is the best way to roam and explore the town, the national park, and the Bow Valley, unfettered by traffic.”
To celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, admission to all Parks Canada sites is free in 2017. The agency is leading a coordinated approach with the town of Banff, the community of Lake Louise, Banff Lake Louise Tourism, and other stakeholders to manage the expected increase in visitation this year and beyond. In addition to expanded transit and shuttle services, other key measures include:
- Providing accurate, timely information to visitors before they arrive and during their stay to manage expectations and help them better plan their trips
- Expanding traffic management procedures, staff and flaggers during busy summer months
- Enhancing Parks Canada’s web presence to inform visitors in real time about congestion in popular visitor areas
- Increasing law enforcement and prevention activities to address potential parking and congestions issues.
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