For over a century, the Banff Train Station has been one of the first things people have experienced when arriving in Banff. The station has welcomed passenger rail services, tour buses, and more recently, visitors looking to park their car and explore on foot, by bike, or by shuttle.

The primary goal of the Banff Railway Lands Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) is to set the direction for transforming the area into an innovative, multi-modal, arrival centre and transportation hub. What was once the premier entrance to town has now become a series of gravel lots and underutilized spaces.

Rehabilitation is key to revitalizing underutilized spaces within the ARP. Aligned with the Banff National Park of Canada Management Plan 2022, a series of proposed public spaces will also accommodate cultural, educational, and interpretive events. Respecting the heritage character of existing buildings will enable celebrating Banff’s built history and support true to place experiences.

Congestion causes significant challenges to the town’s limited 4 kilometres of roadways – and intercept parking is clearly working as one strategy to reduce traffic impacts. In the busiest months of 2023, the existing lot built by Liricon had a 92 per cent occupancy rate. Along with lowering congestion, intercept lots improve mobility for residents — specifically at the primary chokepoint at the Bow River Bridge– and have paved the way for paid parking, a valuable revenue source for the Town of Banff.

Including the existing lot, the ARP will provide approximately 1,060 intercept parking stalls. In conjunction with the new transit hub, these initiatives will allow people to park and gain easier access to popular sites in the park via shuttles or local transit networks.

The ARP is a municipal planning document – meaning nothing can be built without further approvals. The ARP includes provision for passenger rail services including a shuttle centre and micro-mobility rentals. While the prospect of a train and, in some places a gondola, are referenced in several Parks Canada policy documents, elements like these would require additional approvals from government before anything could be advanced.

As one of Canada’s premier tourist destinations, revitalizing the Banff Train Station and Railway Lands is an opportunity to celebrate, educate, and recognize the role the railway has played in the development of Canada. It is also an incredible opportunity to learn and celebrate the contributions and cultural heritage of Indigenous Peoples.

To learn more and show your support, read the ARP here, send a letter to the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change here, and join the Banff Eco-Transit Hub newsletter here to get up-to-date information.