Banff politicians are considering a trial facelift for Wolf and Caribou Streets in downtown Banff.
The proposed project would be a trial over two years in 2017 and 2018 of expanded sidewalks and seating on Wolf Street and Caribou Street between Banff Avenue and Bear Street to improve the experience for pedestrians and boost visitor numbers in those areas.
“We are trying to create a more pedestrian friendly environment, understanding we still have an awful lot of vehicles downtown,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen.
“It won’t be a woonerf like on Bear Street, because pedestrians won’t have the same right of way on the street as they do on Bear Street. Traffic will still flow on those streets at normal speed.”
Council gave the $350,000 trial a preliminary nod of approval during service level review meetings last week, but won’t make a final decision until deliberations on capital budget get underway.
Pricing includes the supply and installation of wooden decks, railings, planters, benches, garbage bins, signage, bike racks and a communications plan, as well as a design development contingency of 15 per cent.
Under the proposal, wooden decks would be constructed next to the sidewalks by removing on-street parking. Approximately 26 parking stalls would have to be eliminated to make the project work.
“A few short-term parking stalls would likely be integrated in the trial,” said Pierre-Hugues Gagnon, the Town of Banff’s engineering coordinator.
Places like The Eddie Burger Bar and Coyotes across the road have sidewalk seating in summer, but the sidewalks are narrow and crammed with people walking on Caribou Street. The same is true for Wolf Street, where restaurants such as Earls have outdoor seating.
Gagnon said administration contacted every business and property owner along Wolf and Caribou streets this year to see if they wanted the street changed to the Banff Refreshing street design.
He said 80 per cent of the businesses – 28 of 35 – agreed to take a survey, of which 86 per cent of respondents support the idea of upgrading Caribou and Wolf streets. Of that, 83 per cent would like to see a trial project similar to the Bear Street woonerf trial.
“If council approves a trial, administration would continue engagement with the businesses and the design would be based off the results of the survey, sidewalk seating-café policy, roadway safety standards and Banff design guidelines,” said Gagnon.
Councillors Corrie DiManno and Chip Olver wanted to see the two-year trial get underway sooner, beginning next summer, but others wanted to wait at least another year.
Sorensen said the municipality is already conducting a trial for the Bear Street woonerf, as well as looking at how to proceed with a continued trial for Banff Avenue greenway in some form.
“We have another trial year for the woonerf on Bear Street and we’re still debating what a continued trial might look like around bike lanes, the greenway,” she said.
“For me personally, when we’re trialing too many things at once, I can no longer understand what’s impacting what.”
If the trial goes ahead in the summers of 2017 and 2018 and proves to be successful, implementation on a permanent basis is estimated to cost $7 million for both Caribou and Wolf streets.
