Town of Banff

Bow Valley Transit Commission approved

April 22, 2011                                                                             
For Immediate Release

Banff, AB - Regional transit is a step closer to reality. The Province of Alberta formally approved the establishment of the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission on April 21, 2011.

The approval transforms the steering committee, established in 2007/08 by the towns of Banff and Canmore, Improvement District #9, Parks Canada and numerous stakeholders in the accommodation, activity and transportation sectors, into a transit commission with the authority to provide passenger transportation services in the Bow Valley.

“The Town of Banff would like to thank all the partners and stakeholders who have committed their time and expertise, and in some cases financial contributions, into making regional transit a reality”, said Mayor Karen Sorensen. “We would have been unable to come this far without their support.”

The first item on the agenda for the commission is the hiring of a General Manager. The commission will assume the operations of Banff ’s highly successful ROAM public transit system, and work toward implementing a regular transit service connecting Canmore and Banff in 2012. Future plans include transit service to popular camping and hiking destinations in the Bow Valley.

“Regional transit will offer more sustainable mobility options for both residents and visitors. It will reduce congestion, improve air quality, reduce costs for road infrastructure, encourage greater visitation—the benefits are endless”, said Mayor Sorensen.

For more information, and to read the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission’s Five-Year Business Plan, visit banff.ca.
   
Media Contact:
Diana Waltmann,
Manager  of Communications & Marketing
Direct: 403.762.1207
Cell: 403-431-2307
email