A proposed integrated transportation plan for Canmore is focused on improving connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the community.
It also identifies two activity streets in a system of street classifications to prioritize them as being a place for vibrant pedestrian activity.
“The (previous) transportation plan was pretty heavily automobile focused,” said manager of engineering Jacob Johnson. “The classification here is talking about all streets are going to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and, of course, private automobiles.
“With our hierarchy, an activity street has a very heavy preference given to pedestrians, whereas a commercial arterial will be about moving people, whether it be pedestrians, cyclists or cars, from one place to another.”
The two activity streets in the classification system are Main Street and several blocks in Teepee Town facing Bow Valley Trail. Johnson explained in the Teepee Town Area Redevelopment Plan that area, which includes current commercial operations of a hotel and restaurant, would all be commercial frontage.
The plan also proposes five new crossings to reduce barriers for connectivity over various creeks, the railway and the Trans-Canada Highway.
HDR Corporation transportation engineer Ian MacLeod, who is working on the plan with the Town of Canmore, said the plan is not limited to the five crossings proposed.
“We looked for whatever opportunity there was available to get crossings and there’s limited opportunity, but these are just suggestions,” he said. “If other ones became available they would certainly be considered, but these are ones here to put forward to the community.”
The plan also included transit routes for Roam in the community of Canmore, reconfiguring the Benchlands overpass to include bike lanes and different options for traffic calming. It also does not recommend returning to a one-way street reconfiguration in the downtown.
MacLeod said transportation planning is about multiple modes of getting around and the proposed plan’s goal is to improve connectivity.
“The thing that would get more people walking and biking is more connectivity, so all the routes are connected and people can go from A to B and get there in a simple and safe way,” he said.
