The Town of Banff is looking into plans to build a gondola network that would link popular tourist spots around town. If built, the networks would link Sulphur Mountain, the Banff Centre and Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Banff receives 3.3 million annual visitors, and many arriving in private vehicles. The plan would be to shift focus away from moving vehicles and towards moving people as a more sustainable approach.
“We broached the subject with Ottawa specific to the Town of Banff and Parks Canada working together on the issue of traffic congestion, including the concept of a cable transit system,” said town manager Robert Earl.
“We weren’t told to stand down. We have support from Ottawa to begin that conversation in earnest,” he said. “This study is to look at the feasibility of three different infrastructure projects.”
A gondola would have the capacity to carry 1,000 passengers per hour. It is hoped that the gondola would also prove to be a tourist attraction.