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?