A regional public transit service is rolling ahead after Banff’s politicians were satisfied the purchase of biodiesel buses could meet their environmental goals for the national park townsite.
On Monday (March 12), Banff council approved a series of changes to the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission’s (BVRTSC) 2011-2016 five-year business plan, including changes to the fleet.
Following earlier approval by Canmore and ID No. 9, and now Banff, BVRTSC will purchase two 40-foot and two 30-foot biodiesel buses for about the same price as two additional hybrid buses would have cost.
BVRTSC officials say new biodiesel buses, designed with low emission engines and Smart bus technologies, are the appropriate buses for the type of service, considering most of the route is on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Koji Miyaji, BVRTSC’s general manager, said he believes for long-haul routes on the highway, such as between Banff and Canmore, diesel buses are more efficient than hybrids.
He said many studies show that at higher speed and with less of a stop-and-go type service, the hybrid bus and a conventional diesel bus have similar fuel consumption performance, and thus similar GHG emission output.
“We believe these buses will still enable the Town of Banff to maintain its environmental leadership with respect to greenhouse gas emissions,” said Miyaji.
“It is important to consider a variety of vehicle solutions in order to achieve the best environmental outcome.”
In 2008, Banff became the first municipality in Canada to introduce an all-hybrid biodiesel-electric bus fleet, with four buses wrapped in stunning images of grizzlies, elk, goats and wolves.
BVRTSC was formally established in April last year – and includes the towns of Banff and Canmore and Improvement District No. 9 – and is taking over Banff’s service and expanding to a regional service.
Parks Canada is delaying its startup of Roam to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake by one or two years, but a public service between Banff and Canmore will get off the ground later this year.
Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen said council appreciated getting the extra information they required on the environmental performance of the bio diesel buses.
“I have learned that a 100 per cent hybrid fleet is not necessarily the best solution for the commission, however, assuring that the commission can overachieve in its environmental objectives is important,” she said.
“The advances in technology, even in the years since we purchased our all hybrid fleet in Banff, is quite startling.”
As part of the changes to the business plan, council also agreed to a 12-hour service on the new Banff-Canmore route, rather than eight hours, and agreed to upgrade electronic fare collection equipment.
Technical reports on the environmental performances of the buses were included in Banff council’s agenda package and can be viewed at www.banff.ca
