Banff’s Mainstreet between the 100 and 200 blocks has been closed to cars in the summers to enhance pedestrians for the last few years.
Initially adopted as a social distancing measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, this ‘temporary’ change might become permanent, a prospect that has stirred mixed reactions among residents and town officials.
The Pedestrian Zone Proposal
In December, Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno presented a motion to the Council to make the pedestrian zone a regular feature from the May long weekend to the end of the Thanksgiving weekend.
The funding to make this a permanent feature is proposed to come from patio seating permits and visitor parking fees.
The town council showed a majority in favour, with a 5-2 split.
This proposal is part of a larger vision to prioritize walking in Banff, potentially turning the town into a more vibrant and people-friendly place.
The pedestrian zone has been extremely popular, attracting up to 40,000 pedestrians on peak days, and is seen as a step towards economic recovery and creating a lively public plaza.
Opposition from Residents
Despite its popularity, the pedestrian zone faces significant opposition from some local residents.
Concerns primarily revolve around increased traffic in residential areas and the lack of a comprehensive emergency evacuation plan.
Residents fear that the closure of Banff Avenue to vehicular traffic diverts the traffic to adjacent streets, exacerbating congestion and safety issues.
On January 8, around 30 residents, including Banff’s first mayor, Leslie Taylor, protested at Town Hall, voicing concerns over traffic congestion and the need for a stronger emergency evacuation plan.
The protestors came armed with placards and signs and were vocal in their opposition.
Signs read: “Want to burn? In your car?”, “Keep our evacuation route open,” “Prioritize residents, “Manage traffic flow before closing Banff Avenue,” “What is the exit plan?” and “Save our residential neighbourhoods,” among others.
Residents like Mary Buckingham, who lives adjacent to Banff Avenue on Muskrat Street, have expressed worries about increased traffic, including trucks and tour buses, idling near residential areas, leading to air quality issues and safety risks.
“Right now, the way it is, we have no good way for trucks or tour buses to get through Banff… there’s no consideration of the way it impacts the people who live there,” she told the Rocky Mountain Outlook.
One of former Mayor Leslie Taylor’s biggest concerns is a safe evacuation in case of a wildfire event.
“Maybe we will have lots of warning, but everything that we’ve seen in recent years shows us that maybe we won’t,” said Taylor to the Outlook, referring to wildfires such as Lahaina in Maui, Lytton in BC, and Fort McMurray.
The former Mayor suggests that if the Council decides to proceed, graders should be placed at Central Park at the end of the pedestrian zone throughout the summer. This would ensure that the graders could quickly clear street furniture to facilitate an open evacuation path in case of a wildfire.
Balancing the Needs of the Community
The town has tried to deal with potential issues in advance by enacting measures such as free peripheral parking, enhanced traffic monitoring, and parking ambassadors to manage the traffic flow in the summer.
However, these preventative measures have not fully alleviated residents’ concerns.
The final decision on the pedestrian zone is pending a budget meeting in January.
Meanwhile, the town is exploring further traffic and parking management solutions to ease congestion, such as paid parking at popular tourist spots and a parking reservation system.
The outcome of this initiative will significantly impact the future of downtown Banff, reflecting the evolving dynamics of tourist towns in managing popular demand and maintaining a quality visitor experience while keeping the safety and security of residents in mind.
