Jasper Municipal Council has decided not to extend transit service to Maligne Canyon, at least for this upcoming summer.
Maligne Canyon is one of the most visited locations in Jasper National Park, attracting 3,000 to 5,000 people per day in the summer, according to visitation data from Parks Canada.
Last summer, the main parking lot was 94 per cent full on average and reached capacity on 85 per cent of summer days.
Parks Canada stated it would be willing to offer financial support for this new transit route to Maligne Canyon.
“At this time, administration is not recommending to move forward [with the route], but we have confirmed that it would be possible if Parks confirmed that they had the funding that we need,” CAO Bill Given told council during last week’s committee of the whole meeting.
Given said if the service were to operate on a full-cost recovery basis, the hourly cost would be $180 per hour, or $37,800 per month for a seven-day-per-week service operating seven hours per day.
If the draft policy for transit service standards were applied, the municipality would ask Parks Canada to commit to two years (or seasons) of funding equal to 90 per cent of the expected full cost recovery, which would be $162 per hour or $34,020 per month.
Given added that fare revenue might cover the remaining 10 per cent.
Council directed administration to inform Parks Canada that the municipality will not be able to offer the proposed route this summer but would be willing to reconsider once it was over.
Administration will also ask Parks Canada for specific route details.
“While I think it’s very exciting and telling that the first six months of service we already have an external group wanting to add a route, I’d like to see a year and a full summer with the service first,” said Coun. Wendy Hall.
“But I support looking into this for 2025, especially considering tourism dollars are set to increase by two and a half.”
Mayor Richard Ireland added that he would be willing to consider a different proposal from Parks Canada.
