Town of Banff

Premier announces GreenTrip funding of $900,000 for Bow Valley Regional Transit Services

Banff, AB – Premier Ed Stelmach announced today that the Town of Banff and the Town of Canmore will each receive a $450,000 grant from the Province of Alberta’s Green Transit Incentives Program to help fund a new transit service between the two Bow Valley communities.

Premier Stelmach made a special trip to Banff to make the announcement this morning and help celebrate the launch of the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission, the first regional transit commission in the province.

The Towns of Banff and Canmore, and ID #9 (Banff) are partnering in the new commission, which will eventually manage a transit system that serves the top destinations in Banff National Park, including Lake Louise, as well as the route between Banff and Canmore. Parks Canada is a non-voting member of the board.
  
”This regional public transit service is the kind of innovation and big-picture thinking we’ve been wanting to see in transit development in Alberta,” said Premier Stelmach. “It is an excellent example of how GreenTRIP reinforces government’s commitment to regional transportation planning and is helping better connect our communities.”
   
GreenTRIP is a $2 billion program that provides one-time capital funding to support new and expanded public transit throughout Alberta. The program is designed to help make transit more accessible, and provide a wider range of public transit options for local, regional and inter-municipal travel in Alberta.
   
“Public transit plays a role in building a world-class transportation system and as more Albertans have opportunities to use transit, more will leave their cars at home,” said Luke Ouellette, Minister of Transportation. “GreenTRIP will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve traffic safety.”
 
The Bow Valley commission will assume management of the Town of Banff’s current transit system, the award-winning Roam. The $900,000 funding will enable the commission to add two new fuel-efficient, low emission buses to the fleet. Currently Roam’s fleet of four bio-diesel hybrid buses, distinctly wrapped in authentic national park wildlife imagery, serve the townsite.

“This demonstrates how the province partners with municipalities to develop effective infrastructure solutions for Albertans,” said Janice Tarchuk, MLA for Banff-Cochrane. “The new service will benefit residents as well as reduce the environmental impact on some of Alberta’s most beautiful areas.”
    “We are excited to see Banff’s vision for sustainable transportation solutions advance, thanks to this support from the province,” said Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen. “Regional transit benefits residents and commuters and will encourage greater visitation to Banff National Park.”

“Thanks to the generosity of the province and our partners in the regional transit commission, this new transit program will be both affordable and accessible,” said Canmore Mayor Ron Casey. “It will provide much needed transit service to residents in our communities as well as visitors.”

None of it would be possible without provincial support, added Mayor Sorensen. “From helping fund the purchase of our ROAM buses in 2008, to providing the expertise and advice, as well as funding of over $212,000 to establish this commission” she said, “the provincial government has been a solid champion of public transit and sustainable transportation in and around Banff and we are truly grateful.”

She went on to thank the premier on behalf of the commission for travelling to Banff to make the announcement and for the province’s continued support of the Bow Valley.    

The commission expects to launch transit service between Banff and Canmore by 2012.
     
Media Contact:
Diana Waltmann,
Manager of Communication & Marketing
Direct: 403-762-1207
Cell: 403-431-2307

www.banff.ca/roam
Read the Bow Valley Transit Services Commission Five-Year Business Plan