Spring to see paid parking pilot for Sulphur Mountain area in Banff National Park

Parks Canada will soon kick off a three-year paid parking pilot for the Sulphur Mountain area.

According to Parks, the pilot will be in effect May 15 to Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, and cost $17.50 per vehicle per day.

The cost of parking is in addition to the cost of a pass to Banff National Park.

The federal agency announced the pilot on social media Wednesday morning.

Parks said the pilot is being done “to manage significant traffic congestion and parking challenges during peak periods.”

It said pilot revenue “will help support public transit in the area and throughout the national park.”

“Paid parking applies to both the upper and lower Parks Canada parking lots,” Parks said.

“Visitors can pay at on-site machines provided.

“Failure to pay may result in a notice of parking violation, payable at the payment machines in the parking lots.”

Reaction to the pilot’s announcement on social media was mixed.

Some were in favour of the pilot:

“I think that’s a reasonable price,” Nicole DiStasio posted.

“With how many visitors arrive, it’ll help the parks a little bit.”

“I think this is wise,” Jeff O’Leary posted.

“Maybe paid parking funds can also help to create cycling/pedestrian infrastructure to the area.

Others, less so:

“Increase park fees for visitors instead of penalizing Albertans who want to visit Parks areas in our own province,” Doug Lutz posted.

“As a local Albertan, I sure miss going to Banff,” Bernice Hill posted.

Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno, in a statement provided to CTV News, said the pilot is “great news”:

“We’re pleased Parks Canada is moving ahead with trialing pay parking at Sulphur Mountain for the next few summers,” DiManno said.

“Every summer, we try to mitigate traffic congestion but with more and more vehicles coming into town, it makes our work that much harder.

“We hope this will be a disincentive for folks who drive their personal vehicles to the Sulphur Mountain attractions and instead, will encourage them to take the more affordable and convenient transit options available in town such as Roam Public Transit or the Banff Gondola shuttles,” she said.

“As well, both Roam and Banff Gondola shuttles from downtown to the gondola are free with pre-purchased gondola passes.”

DiManno said Banff will watch closely to “see if this measure helps reduce traffic jams on our road network.”