The Town of Banff is investigating an overnight parking ban or established snow routes to allow crews to do a better job of snow clearing and plowing in the downtown core and residential areas on Elk Street and Spray Avenue.
One option is an overnight parking ban from Nov. 15 to April 1 in the downtown core, as well as busy Elk Street and Spray Avenue, which would include approximately 185 parking stalls.
Another option is to declare certain downtown streets, as well as Elk and Spray, as snow routes, whereby the Town of Banff would do a communications blitz during big snowfalls to get parked vehicles moved within a couple of hours.
“The idea is to be able to come in before the majority of traffic gets out when people are going to work and going to the ski hill,” said Marc Breau, supervisor of the Town’s streets department.
“We want to get in, get all the snow taken away, plowed, sanded and have the crews out of there.”
At a meeting on Monday (Sept. 28), council wanted more information before making any decisions. Specifically, they’ve directed administration to come back with a report on the number of stalls affected by an overnight parking ban or established snow route.
They also want details on operating implications for the streets department and bylaw services department, and want more information on a 24-hour vehicle removal notice rather than 72-hours notice in residential areas.
“I personally need more information. Hopefully, this will give us clearer direction so we can make a decision,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen. “I think it’s an interesting idea, but where residents are allowed to park cars overnight right now, that of course becomes a bigger concern.”
Calgary introduced a snow route parking ban program to improve snow plowing and clearing operations. Parking bans are reserved for the few times each winter when there is a large buildup of snow on city streets.
In Banff, Breau said the efficiency of snow removal is hampered when the streets department must provide 72-hours notice to residents to have their vehicles moved for snow clearing.
“A snow route, once established, would require parked vehicles to be removed within a pre-determined time frame once a snow route parking ban is declared,” he said.
“An extensive communications plan would be required to implement and maintain a snow route option.”
Breau said Elk Street is one residential area being suggested as a snow route, noting it is an extremely busy road in the morning with kids going to the elementary school and ski buses heading out to the ski hills.
He said an impromptu survey on Elk Street around 6 a.m. last Saturday, Sunday and Monday showed there were 11, 13 and 16 vehicles respectively.
“The majority were between Squirrel and Marten streets and that where it gets dangerously narrow for buses, when kids are trying to get to school and everyone’s heading to ski hills,” said Breau
Councillor Stavros Karlos indicated a willingness to support the idea, but supported Sorensen’s move to get more information.
“I do understand streets’ position on this and I agree with the rationale,” he said. “I was in Chicago last year and they have snow routes. It’s not unique to one Canadian city, it’s very common.”
