Banff paid parking trial to end a month early after petition
Petition by upset residents brought to council in mountain town
A paid parking pilot project in Banff will finish early after upset residents started a petition.
The town started charging in August for parking in five surface lots to see if it decreases traffic downtown.
The pilot project was to last until the end of October.
But a petition against parking fees in the mountain park town brought the matter Monday to a special council meeting.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said council gave first reading to a motion to rescind the parking trial, which she describes as controversial.
“I do think it's important to continue the trial through September because, as I say, the weekends stay very, very busy. So I want to see the data from that time. After that, I personally believe that we'll have the data we need,” she said.
Town council will hold another special meeting about paid parking on Sept. 29.
Sorensen says she would support a public vote if council decided to permanently have some paid parking.