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A passenger rail link between Calgary and Banff National Park is “feasible,” according to a new study, though the federal and provincial governments would likely have to pick up part of the estimated $660-million price tag.

The study — which was commissioned by the towns of Banff, Canmore and Cochrane, as well as the City of Calgary and Improvement District 9 — examined mass transit as a way to reduce vehicle congestion along the Bow Valley corridor and in the national park. In 2018, average daily vehicle volume on the Trans-Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff was more than 22,000 vehicles per day, with summer peak daily volumes above 45,000 vehicles per day.

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In Banff itself, travel time delays are common, said Mayor Karen Sorensen, and the ever-growing congestion also poses risks to wildlife, increases greenhouse gas production and erodes the visitor experience.

“I would suggest that regional mass transit is a fairly obvious way to reduce the growing impacts,” Sorensen said. “I’m just really happy we now have this study. I would say we’re all very pleased learning that it’s feasible.”