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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Christmas week Traffic Stats

December 2023 Traffic Volumes and Year to Year Comparisons

Main Entrances

December 2023 Main Entrances combined vehicle volumes were 436,143, a 13% increase from December 2022 volumes and a 5% increase from December 2019.

Full year 2023 volumes increased 5% from 2022 and were unchanged from 2019.

The average daily High in December 2023 was -0.8C, the average daily Low -7.2C, and 37.2mm precipitation.
The average daily High in December 2022 was -8.4C, the average daily Low -18.1C, and 20.5mm precipitation.
The average daily High in December 2019 was -3.2C, the average daily Low -11.5C, and 52.1mm precipitation.

The normal average daily High for December in Banff is -5.1C, the normal average daily Low -13.3C, and normal average 33.2mm 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

December 2023 Banff Avenue Bridge vehicle volume was 336,624, up 4% from December 2022 versus the 13% increase through the Town’s main entrances. December volumes decreased 1% from 2019, versus unchanged main entrances volume.

Full year 2023 volumes increased 3% from 2022 and decreased 11% from 2019. The decrease versus pre-pandemic years may be attributed to a combination of factors including free transit for locals, intercept parking combined with promotion and uptake of transit and shuttle use, and the active mode transportation option offered by the new Nancy Pauw Pedestrian Bridge.

Full year Roam local ridership increased 51% to 1,575,000 from 1,046,143 in 2022, and increased 60% from 984,266 in 2019, representing a welcome shift in driver habits away from private vehicle use.

Due to the above transportation mode shift factors, as a percentage of Main Entrances volume, Banff Ave Bridge volume has decreased substantially from pre-pandemic years, as shown in the following heatmap. This improvement has helped mitigate congestion and delays both on southside corridors and in the downtown area.

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Mountain Avenue

December 2023 Mountain Avenue vehicle volume was 86,693, an 18% increase from December 2022, versus the 4% increase over Banff Ave Bridge and the 13% increase through the Main Entrances.

Volume increased 13% from December 2019 and was the highest December volume on record dating back to 2006.

Full year volume increased 7% from 2022 and decreased 7% from 2019.

The heatmap below illustrates how Mountain Avenue volume as a percentage of Main Entrances volume changed since pre-pandemic years:

January percentage volume increased to 19%
February through April percentage volumes remained unchanged
May through October percentage volumes decreased to 17-19%, coinciding with increased shuttle and transit service and ridership
November percentage volume decreased to 16% with the Gondola closed for annual maintenance November 6-16, 2023

*Note: November 2015 until April 2016 volumes were down due to Gondola redevelopment

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.