2023 Traffic Data

About this data

The Town collects data to determine solutions to traffic flow problems during peak season.

Banff’s threshold for the onset of congestion and delays is considered to be approximately 24,000 vehicles per day entering the town, as measured by counters at the Banff Avenue entrance and the Norquay Road entrance.

The Town’s goal is to minimize delays during peak periods, to under 15 minutes.

The data and traffic cameras are used to determine if interventions are needed such as overriding the traffic lights at key intersections to move more vehicles through, to reduce backlogs.

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September long weekend Traffic Stats

August 2023 Traffic Volumes and Year to Year Comparisons

Main Entrances

August 2023 Main Entrances combined vehicle volumes were 820,658, a 5% increase from August 2022 volumes and a 3% decrease from August 2019.

The 3% decrease versus 2019 may be attributed in part to an uptake of regional transit ridership:

Route 3 regional transit ridership increased 54% from 20,105 in August 2019 to 28,501 in 2023
On-It Calgary Regional ridership increased 116% from 4,847 in August 2019 to 10,475 in 2023

Please note: A sinkhole formed in the Eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway between the West and East entrances to Banff on the afternoon of Thursday, August 31^st and prompted the detour of Eastbound traffic via Banff’s West entrance into town and back onto the highway via Banff’s East exit. Authorities requested local drivers to refrain from using the detour route until 2-way single lanes could be implemented in the Westbound lanes later that afternoon. As a result, incoming traffic volume at the West entrance was 9% higher (633 vehicles) than the previous Thursday and outgoing traffic volume at the East exit was down 61% (-2,848 vehicles) from the previous Thursday. The detour related volume changes are minor in the context of the full month’s volume and are detailed here merely to illustrate the effects on the local traffic.

Year to Date 2023 volumes increased 4% from year-to-date 2022 and decreased 2% from 2019.

The average daily High in August 2023 was 24.0C, the average daily Low 7.0, and 55.1mm precipitation.

The average daily High in August 2022 was 26.0C, the average daily Low 8.8C, and 31.8mm precipitation.

The average daily High in August 2019 was 21.6C, the average daily Low 6.6C, and 88.2mm precipitation.

The average daily High for August in Banff is 21.3C, the average daily Low 6.9C, and average 60.1mm precipitation. Climate normals are computed over a 30-year period to eliminate year-to-year variations.

Source: Environment Canada

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Bow River Crossings

August 2023 Banff Avenue Bridge vehicle volume was 423,702, down 1% from August 2022 versus the 5% increase through the Town’s main entrances.

Volumes decreased 19% from 2019, versus the main entrances 3% decrease.

Year-to-date volumes increased 2% from year-to-date 2022 and decreased 13% from 2019. The decrease versus pre-pandemic years can be attributed to a combination of factors including free transit for locals, promotion and uptake of transit and shuttle use, and the active mode transportation option offered by the new Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge.

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Mountain Avenue

August 2023 Mountain Avenue vehicle volume was 143,543, a 5% increase from August 2022, versus the 1% decrease over Banff Ave Bridge and the 5% increase through the Main Entrances.

Volume decreased 18% from August 2019. The decrease versus pre-pandemic years can be attributed to a combination of factors including in-town messaging when gondola parking is full combined with strong promotion and uptake of free transit and shuttle service to Sulphur Mountain destinations.

Year to date volume increased 7% from 2022 and decreased 10% from 2019.

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Definitions

Main Entrances Monthly Total Vehicle Volumes: This number references the total number of vehicles recorded (both incoming and outgoing combined) at traffic count stations located at the two main entrances to Town – Mnt Norquay Rd and Banff Ave. Hence, this number equals ((Mnt Norquay incoming volume + Mnt Norquay outgoing volume) + (Banff Ave incoming volume + Banff Ave outgoing volume)). The vehicle volume reported is not representative of the total number of vehicles in town in one month; it is simply how many vehicles are moving in and out of the town over the course of one month.

Banff Avenue Bridge Monthly Total Vehicle Volume: This number references the total number of vehicles recorded (both southbound and northbound combined) over the course of one month at a traffic count station located on the Bridge. Full monthly data collection at this location began in August 2016.

Mountain Avenue Monthly Total Vehicle Volume: This number references the total number of vehicles recorded (both southbound and northbound combined) over the course of one month at a traffic count station located on Mountain Ave, around the corner and up the hill from Middle Springs Drive.

Total Vehicle Volume YTD: This number references the total number of vehicles recorded (both incoming and outgoing combined) between January 1^st and the end of the reporting month at traffic count stations identified above.