Tourist hub in Rockies rolls out Canada’s first all-hybrid bus fleet

With the new transit system in place, the number of bus passengers has doubled and GHG emissions have been reduced by about 24 percent. To house the buses, the town built a new storage and maintenance building, which has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification. The buses are anticipated to be in service for about 18 years—three years longer than originally projected.

As with any ambitious initiative, there were bumps along the way. One challenge involved the tight timelines in the six weeks before the official launch of the new transit system: buses were driven from Montreal to Banff and wrapped with wildlife graphics in Calgary, drivers were trained and electronic fareboxes installed, brochures were created and delivered around town, signs at transit stops were updated, and over 1,000 smart cards were initialized. While major efforts by a small team of city staff ensured that timelines were met, the town would allow for more implementation time were it to take on a project of this scope again. 

In the years since the introduction of the hybrid buses, a regional hybrid transit system has been born, connecting Banff to nearby communities, parks and ski resorts. Ridership and fleet growth have been so strong that a new energy-efficient 32-bus storage facility is now under construction. The facility will be home to the town’s first electric buses, which will roll onto the streets of Banff in early 2021. 

Banff’s new hybrid fleet has not only increased community pride and the tourism industry, it has confirmed the Town of Banff as a leader in sustainability.

Being an early adopter of this technology means that not everything will be perfect, but it helps create demand and drive the industry to keep improving."

Karen Sorensen, Councillor for the Town of Banff