Editor:
Banff had traffic flow problems and a parking shortage prior to Banff Avenue Refreshing (BAR), the $25 million, two-year (it was supposed to be completed during one summer season) redesign of the 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue that was completed in 2008. Subsequent to the completion of that project it was obvious that both traffic flow problems and the parking shortage had been made worse.
Lately, as a result of the recommendations of the $100,000 Transportation Master Plan (TMP), numerous changes have been made on our streets that affect both traffic flow and the availability of parking. I believe that the results of most of these changes are more negative than positive.
I have observed that implementation of some of the TMP recommendations has added to the difficulties experienced by many drivers, particularly the drivers of buses and other long vehicles, for the following reasons:
1) The new right turn lane at Buffalo/Bear intersection does not allow long vehicles to turn right unless they turn right from the left turn/drive straight lane, or jump the curb and drive on the sidewalk as happened to me when a large truck honked his horn at me to warn me that I was about to be run over. Had the driver not used his horn I might have been converted into an ineffective speed bump under his two back tires. There is the possibility that a vehicle in the right turn lane will be squished by a bus that is also turning right but is forced to use the left turn/drive straight lane in order to negotiate that right turn.
2) The Town has attempted to improve traffic flow through the Buffalo/Bear intersection by removing parking in front of the post office and converting that former parking lane into a right turn lane. Approximately eight new parking stalls have been created across the street in the Central Park parking lot. Two handicapped parking stalls have been relocated to beside the library. Creation of these additional stalls is logical. I would also like to see a handicapped parking stall located on Bear Street beside the post office.
I realize that this is an experiment but I believe that this experiment has once again, created more problems than it solves, particularly when you consider the points in No. 1 (above). Parking problems are worsened on Wednesdays when the farmers market is in operation.
Already, the vast majority of locals that I have spoken to consider that this experiment is a failure. Hopefully, Town officials will terminate this experiment immediately. I fear that, instead, officials might decide to deem this experiment a success and retain the changes on a year-round basis. This experiment makes it much more difficult for mobility-challenged people (like myself) to find a parking spot close to the post office. This past winter I experienced a slip and fall on an icy sidewalk and suffered a broken hip as a result. I dread winter and having to deal with crossing a slippery Buffalo Street after parking further from the post office than was the case prior to the removal of those parking spots.
Traffic lights, coupled with pedestrian lights, would have resolved traffic flow problems at this intersection. These lights should operate only during the summer season, with the possible exception of the Christmas period. After hours (and off-season) the traffic lights could flash yellow on Buffalo Street and flash red on Bear Street.
It has been suggested to me that townspeople who oppose the removal of the parking in front of the post office initiate a campaign of civil disobedience. The idea is that drivers synchronize their visits to the post office and park in the former parking spots, such that there are four or five vehicles constantly filling those spots – as one car pulls out, another car pulls in. That would certainly display our displeasure and would make for an interesting news story for the local and national print and TV news.
3) Within the last two weeks a yellow lined area (essentially a “do not enter” marking) was painted in the left turn/drive straight lane in front of the legion. This marking obligates drivers who are in the left-hand lane, as they come off the Bow River Bridge, to turn into the right turn/drive straight lane, even if their intent is to turn left. This will create a back up on the bridge as drivers in the left turn lane try to turn into the right lane so that they can, legally, turn back into the left lane. This is an annoyance for cars but is a nightmare for buses. Many drivers ignore the yellow lines and drive right through them. They are breaking the law when they drive through this “do not enter” area. According to Brennan David, PEng, employed by the Town as an engineering co-ordinator, the reason for designating this section of Banff Avenue as a “do not enter” area is: “this marking was installed with the idea of guiding the single lane of north bound traffic to the right lane. This then invites any vehicle wanting to turn left at the light to signal and move to the left lane, while at the same time, keeping those that want to continue straight through the light, in the right lane. The overall intent being not to have vehicles that want to continue straight, stuck in the left lane behind left turning vehicles.”
My observation is that this just makes it even more difficult, and time consuming, to turn right or to drive straight down Banff Avenue. In “solving” one problem another problem is created.
4) A long-term Beaver Street resident called me (in tears) a few days ago to complain about the parking lot that she now has to deal with in the 100 block of Beaver Street. Subsequent to the elimination of parallel parking and the introduction of angle parking in the 100 block of Beaver Street, there are now (if memory serves me right) 17 more parking stalls on Beaver Street. Once again, in attempting to solve one problem, other problems have been created, in this case, three problems:
a) I am told (but have not personally witnessed) that buses are now having difficulty entering the parking lot behind the Mount Royal Hotel.
b) Additionally, the angle parking on Beaver Street (a residential street) was causing problems for pedestrians as some vehicles were overhanging the sidewalk, although to a certain degree this problem has been eliminated (not completely as I am told that some vehicles are backing in now so as to stay out of the oncoming traffic lane) by placing angled bumpers on the roadway in front of the sidewalk. However, the rear end of vehicles that back into these stalls during winter will likely hang over the sidewalk. This will cause snow removal problems and might make it dangerous for pedestrians to navigate the sidewalk.
c) Another new problem that residents of the 100 block are now experiencing occurs when it is dark. The headlights of cars that are parking, or are leaving their parking spot with the headlights on, are shining through the windows of Beaver Street homes.
Some might consider that points 4b and 4c above are NIMBYism. I do not feel that the parking shortfall should be partially reversed by creating potential hazards and inflicting inconveniences on the residents of a residential street.
Jon Whelan,
Banff
