Quote:
Originally Posted by milomilo
I imagine other parks have similar concerns, but Banff is the one I'm familiar with, and is also the one which would be relevant to an Olympics bid.
If there is any risk of avalanche (first I've heard of it), just ban it on those slidepaths, or only during times of higher avalanche danger. No need to cut off the entire road.
According to Sunshine Village, adding a parkade would mean incurring high costs which wouldn't be able to be recouped because (here we go again) Parks Canada won't allow any more development of the resort, so ticket prices would have to increase from their already extortionate level. Seems fair enough to me, especially when they have presented multiple options to expand parking capacity cheaply, with no real effect on the environment since all of the options are bounded by or adjacent to roadways. |
If you've never heard of it, I recommend you do some research before spouting more "fake news". And Parks Canada has already been doing just what you recommend, Only banning parking during most dangerous times and in the most dangerous places. Instead of paying for lawyers (Sunshine is very litigious but never seems to win against the crown), perhaps Sunshine should be paying for a parking structure! Oh well, their lease must be expiring soon.
Judge upholds Sunshine parking ban
Thursday, Jan 03, 2013 06:00 am
By: Cathy Ellis
Parks Canada’s enforcement of a ban on parking in potentially dangerous avalanche terrain along the access road to Sunshine Village ski resort has been upheld by the courts.
A federal court decision against granting an injunction comes at the same time Sunshine had a busy Christmas season, with skiers turned away at the base of the access road on at least one day as vehicles back up onto the Trans-Canada Highway.
Sunshine claims the parking ban on the upper stretch of the seven-kilometre access road will harm its business reputation, but Parks argues it’s a matter of public safety because of the potential avalanche hazard.
The ski resort was seeking a stay on the enforcement of the ban while they seek a judicial review on Parks Canada’s decision to ban parking on the upper section of the road.
“I agree with (Parks Canada) that the balance of convenience involving questions of public safety and the public interest mitigate against the issuance of any injunction,” wrote federal judge Elizabeth Heneghan in a Dec. 21 decision.
Sunshine’s parking lot can accommodate about 1,700 cars and, once full, the upper three kilometres of the access road have historically been used to park another 400 or so cars during peak periods such as Christmas holidays.
But last March, Parks Canada put a stop to parking along the upper three km stretch after a massive Class 4 avalanche came crashing down the Bourgeau 7 slide path on March 6, sweeping across the road.
In early December, however, Parks Canada altered its original restriction and increased the amount of road currently available to parking by approximately one km.
As it stands now, no parking is permitted between the gate at the Sunshine Village parking lot and the east side of the Bourgeau 4 avalanche path on the access road.
It will, however, be allowed between the east side of Bourgeau 4 and east side of Bourgeau 1 during periods of forecast minimal avalanche hazard only. Parking is allowed on the lower section below Bouregeau 1 to the cattle guard.
Sunshine provides a shuttle bus to transport skiers up and down the road.
Marc Ledwidge, Parks Canada’s visitor safety manager, said the Class 4 avalanche highlighted the uncertainty of forecasting large avalanche paths and was a “huge wakeup call for all us.
“It is unreasonable for people to park there and have pedestrians standing there. The only reason we’re doing this is we’re very concerned about the safety of people while accessing the ski area,” he said.
“This incident last year shows the unpredictable nature of avalanches and the potential catastrophic consequence of a large avalanche on that road, and we’re not prepared to accept that risk for the public.”
Officials with Sunshine Village say they are continuing with the judicial review application of Parks Canada’s parking restrictions.
Crosbie Cotton, director for the National Parks Ski Areas Association, said an expert group they commissioned – Dynamic Avalanche Consulting Ltd. – determined parking restrictions weren’t required.
“This appears to be unreasonable, with visitors and the community paying the ultimate price,” he said. “Visitors who say they won’t come back have a tremendous impact on the town of Banff, not just the resort.”
Cotton said the parking protocol in place since 2006 – which allowed for parking in certain areas in the top three kms depending on the snow conditions – worked.
He argued the parking restrictions could have been lifted over the Christmas period.
“It hasn’t snowed for six days, Parks Canada has undertaken all the necessary avalanche precautions, many of the signs could have been covered up, especially within the leasehold, because there was no danger,” he said.
“Parks Canada can’t continue to promote tremendous advances in the quality of visitor experience when you have something like this. Sunshine wants a long-term solution to parking, but the resort needs a willing partner.”
Ledwidge said park wardens have been enforcing the parking restrictions and Sunshine Village staff have been very co-operative, doing an amazing job in dealing with people parking on the safe stretch of the road.
“We’re not ignoring the challenges that Sunshine has. The goal is to work towards a real long-term solution and parking on the road is not a long-term solution,” he said.
“Safety is a priority, but for next winter, we hope we definitely have something that’s in place that works for Sunshine and also works for their customers.”
In making the determination, Judge Heneghan said Sunshine failed to provide evidence the parking restrictions would cause the ski resort “irreparable harm.”
Sunshine had said prohibiting overflow parking on the upper access road would damage their reputation as an attractive and easily accessible regional destination and it is highly likely will negatively impact season pass and ticket sales.
“This statement is not supported by any evidence, for example, about anticipated loss of customers and loss of income,” said Judge Heneghan. “Should such loss occur, in my opinion, it is financial in nature and not irreparable.”
National park wardens have been out over the holiday period enforcing the parking ban.
On Sunday (Dec. 30), traffic on the access road was backed up all the way to the Trans-Canada Highway, forcing skiers to be turned away until parking opened up.
Eric Jensen, acting supervisor of Banff’s warden office, said wardens are working towards a common goal of keeping people safe and getting them skiing as quickly as possible.
“We appreciate the visitation and we are excited and eager that so many people come up and visit the parks, but safety of our visitors is our top priority,” he said.
“Yesterday (Sunday) was our biggest lineup. With that situation, we had to contend with traffic slowing down and backing up on the highway. The last thing we want to have is traffic back-up causing an accident
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