Canmore’s elected officials are keen to get more information about how a high speed passenger rail service from Calgary to the Bow Valley would operate.
Canmore council voted Tuesday (Feb. 9) to support the Town of Banff’s application for a provincial grant to undertake a full feasibility study into the idea.
A council resolution from Canmore was needed in order to pursue the Alberta Community Partnership grant, according to municipal engineer Jacob Johnson.
Johnson said Canmore as a municipality has been working toward reducing the number of vehicles on the road and getting more people to walk or cycle throughout the community.
A reduced reliance on the automobile would mean looking into the possibility of high speed rail service from Calgary that connects Cochrane, Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise is in line with established council priorities.
“We don’t want to pave paradise,” Johnson said. “We don’t want to create a whole bunch of parking lots for cars – we want to maintain our sense of community.
“To do this we are working strategically towards sustainable modes of transportation, intercepting cars and moving people. We are making it easy for people to walk and bike.”
In line with looking into rail as another way to travel throughout the valley without a vehicle are other council decisions, he said, including support for the Legacy Trail, establishing local transit in Canmore and doubling the regional Roam route.
The feasibility study scope includes looking at the infrastructure required, where stations would be located, social, environmental and economic impacts, capital and operating costs and implementation planning.
“Banff has made the application,” Johnson said. “They will be (Banff administration), upon successful grant funding, doing all the work for the request for proposals, retaining the consultant and then working with the consultant through the process.”
The intent, he added, is to work with CP Rail to use existing tracks in order to establish a rail service. Added infrastructure may be needed, like sidings, to accommodate both freight rail service and passenger.
Councillor Rob Seeley said he fully supports the effort to look into rail for the valley; that it is a long overdue endeavour.
“I am excited by this, I think it has some really good possibilities,” Seeley said.
Indeed, all of council supported the motion to join Banff for the $350,000 grant funds to pursue the feasibility study.
