Roam is the public transit system for the towns of Canmore, Banff (located inside Banff National Park), and serves Lake Louise (located inside Banff National Park) and the Bow Valley of Alberta's Rockies in Canada. The system is managed by the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission (BVRTSC). In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .
History Roam was formerly known as Banff Public Transit and the town has had some form of public transportation since 1994, with services contracted to a variety of private operators.
The system was re-branded as Roam in June 2008. At the same time a new fleet of four hybrid buses was acquired and operation of the service was turned over to a new private contractor, Brewster Inc., a local tour bus company.
On April 21, 2011, the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission (BVRTSC) was formed by the Town of Banff, the Town of Canmore and Improvement District No. 9. This new government agency was authorised to provide or coordinate local and regional transit services in the Bow Valley. Although not a voting member, Parks Canada actively participates in commission meetings.
In the fall of 2012, the BVRTSC took over responsibility for the transit service. On December 3, 2012, regional transit service between Banff and Canmore began.
Service There are currently fourteen routes, seven that operate year-round and five that operate seasonally (May to September).
RouteDistricts/Areas ServedFrequencyNotesBanff Local1 Sulphur MountainSulphur Mountain District, Banff Downtown District, Uptown District, Industrial District40 minutesLimited service to the Banff Industrial District2 Tunnel MountainBanff Springs District, Banff Downtown District, Uptown District, Tunnel Mountain District40 minutesSeasonal service to Tunnel Mountain Village I Campground4 Cave and Basin/Bow FallsCave and Basin District, Banff Recreation Grounds, Bow Falls, Banff Downtown District, Uptown District60 minutesOperates Friday-Sunday, mid-May to September 306 Lake MinnewankaBanff Downtown District, Uptown District, Cascade Ponds, Minnewanka Park & Ride, Johnson Lake, Two Jack, Minnewanka Lookout, Lake Minnewanka60 minutesOperates mid-May to mid-September7 Fenlands/Banff CentreBanff Centre District, Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain Trailhead, Banff Downtown District, Uptown District, Banff Train Station, Fenlands Recreation Centre35 minutesOperates mid-September to mid-May Temporarily suspended from 2019 until 2026Canmore Local5T Three SistersDowntown Canmore, Carey/Homesteads, Three Sisters35 minutesCurrently operating fare-free5C Cougar CreekDowntown Canmore, Cougar Creek, Bow Valley Trail35 minutesCurrently operating fare-free12 PalliserDowntown Canmore, Palliser, Bow Valley Trail, TeePee Town60 minutesCurrently operating fare-free. Operates mid-September to mid-May12 Palliser/Grassi LakesDowntown Canmore, Palliser, Bow Valley Trail, TeePee Town, Hospital Hill, Quarry Lake Park, Kananaskis Country, Canmore Nordic Centre, Grassi Lakes Trailhead60 minutesCurrently operating fare-free. Operates mid-May to mid-SeptemberRegional3 Banff/Canmore RegionalBanff Downtown District, Uptown District, Industrial District, Bow Valley Trail, Downtown Canmore60 minutesRegional fare required Operates fare-free within Canmore town limits8S Lake Louise/Banff Regional ScenicJohnston Canyon, Bow Valley Parkway , Lake Louise Ski Resort/Park & Ride, Lake Louise Village Centre, Lake Louise Lakeside, Banff Train Station, Banff Downtown District4 hours 30 minutesTemporarily suspended until further notice Regional fare required
Operates July to August8X Lake Louise/Banff Regional ExpressLake Louise Village Centre, Lake Louise Lakeside, Lake Louise Ski Resort/Park & Ride, Banff Train Station, Banff Downtown District60 MinutesRegional fare required9 Johnston CanyonBow Valley Parkway , Banff Train Station, Banff Downtown District60 MinutesRegional fare required10 Moraine LakeMoraine Lake, Lake Louise Village Centre, Lake Louise Ski Resort/Park & Ride, Banff Train Station, Banff Downtown District60 MinutesTemporarily suspended until further notice Regional fare required
Operates September to late-October/early-NovemberLake Louise Local11 Lake Louise LocalLake Louise Ski Resort/Park & Ride, Lake Louise Village Centre, Lake Louise Recreation Grounds, Lake Louise Campgrounds, Village Road, Lake Louise LakesideOperates Seasonally
References
External links
Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission – Five-Year Business Plan Roam at CPTDB Wiki