Banff launches electric buses, new zero-emissions transit operations centre

Visitors to some of Banff's most popular destinations will soon be able to travel in a more eco-friendly way.

Roam Transit, which serves Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise, is taking steps toward an entirely zero-emission transit system.

On Tuesday, Roam added three electric buses to its fleet the first electric buses in the National Park and opened a new transit operations and training centre in the Banff townsite.

The $8.5-millionnew operations centre is solar-powered and heated by biomass energy, and includes storage for 30 buses,charging areas, and a training simulator. The building is efficiently insulated and does not have a natural gas connection.

The buses will service destinations like the Banff Gondola, Banff Springs Hotel and Tunnel Mountain campgrounds year-round. The buses arequieter and cheaper to maintain than diesel buses.

"Environmental stewardship is important for our community, as it is for the national park, so having electric buses, of course, meets that criteria," said Banff Mayor Karen Sorenson.

The facility and electric buses received provincial funding through the Green Transit Incentives Program.