Banff Calls for Action on Railway Lands Plan Amid Growing Parking Pressures

More than two years after Banff council approved a redevelopment plan that includes expanded parking and a transportation hub near the train station, the proposal remains under federal environmental review, with public consultation and a final decision still to come.

The proposal is drawing renewed attention following an Oct. 27 Governance and Finance Committee meeting, where Mayor Corrie DiManno urged Parks Canada to advance its review as demand for parking continues to put pressure on the town's transportation system.

"We need an answer," DiManno said.

Her comments followed a presentation on Banff's summer transportation trends, which showed that despite record vehicle volumes in July and August, traffic on some of the town's busiest roads declined.

DiManno welcomed those improvements but cautioned that the town still faces challenges as visitation increases and more travellers use Banff as a starting point for exploring the national park.

"Managing another record-breaking summer is not the same as having a long-term transportation strategy," she said.

Environmental Review Remains Underway

The Railway Lands Area Redevelopment Plan, approved by Banff council on June 24, 2024, requires approval from the federal minister responsible for Parks Canada before it can take effect.

As the federal land manager and regulator for Banff National Park, Parks Canada must ensure the proposal complies with applicable legislation, the national park's management plan and the Town of Banff Incorporation Agreement.

Parks Canada completed public and Indigenous engagement on the terms of reference for a strategic environmental assessment in January 2025, and the Town submitted its assessment in mid-2026.

According to Parks Canada's public consultation website, the review process includes a 60-day national public engagement period before the agency prepares a decision package for the federal minister.

During the consultation period, members of the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the strategic environmental assessment, which may lead to revisions before a final decision.

The assessment examines the potential environmental consequences of the redevelopment, including cumulative effects from infrastructure, visitor activity, climate change and other pressures on the national park.

One area requiring consideration is the proposed parking expansion near the Fenlands Recreation Centre, close to the Fenland-Indian Ground Wildlife Corridor.

The Town's approved plan also identifies opportunities to restore previously disturbed land north of the railway tracks to improve wildlife habitat.

According to the Town's project website, Parks Canada is preparing to seek public input on the assessment, although a start date has not been confirmed in the published information.

Even if the overall plan receives federal approval, individual developments would still require separate permits and approvals before construction could proceed.

Parking Demand Continues to Grow

The redevelopment plan would establish a larger transportation hub around Banff's historic train station, incorporating expanded parking, improved pedestrian and cycling connections, visitor services and heritage restoration.

The plan also contemplates expanding parking north of the railway tracks near the Fenlands Recreation Centre.

According to the Town's summer transportation report, the free parking lot at the Banff train station was reaching capacity by approximately 11 a.m., about an hour earlier than in 2025.

During peak periods, transportation staff estimated that an additional 190 to 400 parking spaces would be needed to accommodate demand for free parking.

The Town intends to use parking outside downtown and public transit to reduce the number of vehicles travelling through the townsite.

DiManno said Banff is increasingly serving as a transportation hub for the wider national park, with visitors parking in town before transferring to shuttles bound for destinations such as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

"This puts growing pressure on parking capacity," she said.

A Longer-Term Transportation Strategy

The railway lands redevelopment is one part of a broader effort to change how people travel throughout Banff National Park.

In 2022, a Parks Canada-appointed expert advisory panel released recommendations for moving people more sustainably through the Bow Valley.

The panel's report recommended reducing private vehicle arrivals, developing transportation hubs, improving public transit and using parking prices to influence travel choices.

It also emphasized protecting wildlife habitat and ecological integrity when considering new transportation infrastructure.

During the Oct. 27 committee meeting, DiManno called for progress on Parks Canada's broader Moving People Sustainably framework.

She said the Banff National Park Management Plan originally called for a comprehensive people-movement plan by 2024, with the timeline later amended to 2026.

The framework is intended to establish long-term transportation goals and coordinate municipal, regional and private transportation services.

DiManno also acknowledged Alberta's passenger rail master plan, which identifies a potential Calgary airport-to-Banff rail connection, but questioned how soon such a project could address the town's immediate transportation needs.

"However, a plan with a 30-year horizon isn't going to help us today or over the next five years," she said.

With the Calgary region continuing to grow, DiManno said Banff needs to prepare for future transportation demands rather than relying solely on improvements achieved during recent summers.

"We need the plan, commitments, and investment to build on our progress and prepare for the future," she said.

The proposed redevelopment remains subject to federal review, with public consultation and a ministerial decision still required before the plan can move forward.