Should Banff Hike Parking Rates to Fund Transit?

What’s Happening? Banff council is considering whether visitors should help shoulder more of the town’s costs by paying more to park.

A new report presented at the November 18 council meeting outlines a proposal to raise the visitor pay parking rate from $7 to $9 per hour, which would generate an estimated $2.2 million in additional annual revenue. The extra money could fully fund Roam Transit operations for the next two years and cut the planned 2026 municipal tax increase by about 7.8 percent.

Why It’s on the Table. Roam’s operating costs continue to grow as service expands, with the 2026 budget calling for about $1.55 million for local transit and $511,000 for regional routes.

Mayor Corrie DiManno first suggested using parking revenue to fully fund transit during budget talks, saying it could help ease pressure on taxpayers without cutting services. Currently, visitor pay parking covers 73 percent of local transit costs and 22 percent of regional routes. The increase would be enough to fund all Roam services through 2027, though not 2028 if new routes are added.

The Trade-Off. While the proposal would lower the tax burden for residents, it could also make Banff’s already expensive parking more controversial. Visitors currently pay a flat $7 per hour year-round to park downtown, a rate that already rivals larger cities. Resident permit holders (through the Residential Parking Permit program) can still park for free or for longer periods in designated areas.

What’s Next? Council will take another look at the parking rate proposal during December’s budget meetings, when they’ll decide whether to update the town’s 2026–2028 budget and officially change the parking bylaw.

For now, Banff is facing a familiar question: should tourists pay more so locals can pay less?

Locals Vote: Should Banff raise visitor parking to $9 an hour to fund Roam Transit?

In a Bow Valley Insider poll that drew 269 responses, 50.19% of respondents said they do not support raising the price of parking.

Community Comments

• Since they can park outside the city and walk or take transit, they should pay more

• Why stop at $9? Aim for $20, $30, $50 per hour

• It is already too expensive to visit here

• It will not deter visitors, maximize your tourist dollars. No matter how expensive Banff is or may become, tourists will pay

• Having spent a few weeks in Europe this fall and seeing large numbers of people visiting popular destinations, I think we need to look elsewhere for ideas. Higher parking costs can encourage different behaviours and reduce car congestion

• Living in Canmore and needing to go to Banff for appointments, raising it makes me want to move my appointments to Canmore instead

• Enough already

• Seven dollars is pretty steep already for low income families who want an outing in the mountains

• No, already too high. There must be another way to raise revenue for parking

• Bow Valley residents with business or appointments in Banff should qualify for the three hours free on Blinkay, just like in Canmore

• Drivers to Banff are mostly coming from nearby communities. Roam buses are great, but the service should be funded by non Albertans, not locals

• Ridiculous cash grab robbing tourists

• Investment in Roam is necessary to make it more comfortable, reliable and efficient or people will still want their cars

• Pressure the federal government to provide funding by charging non Canadians extra when they enter the park or visit attractions

• Is it possible for the federal government to provide more money for parking

• Charge more to use the bus

• Too much pollution and traffic. Better for the environment

• We do not want more cars in town. Visitors should leave their cars at hotels or free lots. If they are willing to pay $9 for downtown parking, so be it

• Higher prices may encourage visitors to use shuttles and transit and leave vehicles behind

• Canmore and Banff should create a reciprocal resident agreement for parking

• Everything in the mountains is getting more expensive. Please do not give locals another reason to stop visiting

• Increase the cost of the Roam Transit pass so Roam covers its own expenses

• User pay for parking and transit. Nobody subsidizes me, so why should I subsidize tourists

• If they are willing to spend $1000 a night at a hotel, they will pay whatever to park. Increase the number of handicapped stalls with three free hours

• To park and shop or attend an event is usually three to four hours. That is $21 to $28

• They get the Parks pass for free, let them pay

• Already too busy. Vehicles have to pay more to get people out of their cars

• Banff is already very expensive. As Alberta residents we visit less because of costs. Raising parking rates will deter us even more, especially when bringing seniors from out of province

• Higher pricing may help deter visitors from bringing cars in the first place

• Roam should be funded by those who use it. As a Bow Valley resident, this is getting out of hand and discourages me from visiting Banff

• If you do not want visitors to come, just say so. It is becoming off putting

• Considering there is no tourist tax, nine dollars per hour is not too much for parking

• Roam Transit ridership should fund its program. Parking fees should cover snow removal and road repairs. Not everyone can take transit due to disabilities. Visitors should have choices to support small businesses

• I live in Canmore and do not want to pay more to park in Banff. The three hour free parking should be available in both towns

• It will push visitors into residential areas. Nine dollars per hour is crazy