Calgary 
Revenue from Kananaskis Conservation Pass will be used to upgrade trails, and invest in public transit, Alberta announced today.
Alberta introduced the conservation pass on June 1st of last year for users who want to visit Kananaskis Country located about 100 km west of Calgary promising user fee generated will be invested back into supporting the area.
Now the government has announced some of the details of how part of the $12 million in revenue generated to date will be used:
- $4 million will be used for upgrades that will address public safety issues and parking congestion at the popular Grassi Lakes and Goat Creek day-use areas in Kananaskis Country.
- $994,000 will be used to support a free regional transit initiative in partnership with the Town of Canmore.
The government is planning to expand and formalize the Grassi Lakes main parking lot, refurbish portions of the Grassi Lakes trail, formalize the Grassi Lakes overflow parking lot, provide a road crossing and trail connection between the overflow and main lots, provide separation and washroom facilities between the climber’s lot and the Smith Dorrien Trail, expand and formalize the main Goat Creek parking lot and replace two bridges on Goat Creek trail as part of the upgrades to Grassi Lakes and Goat Creek day-use areas.
This will lead to closures of Grassi Lakes Trail, Ha Ling Trail, Miner’s Peak Trail, and various other trails and parking lots in the area effective April 1st.
Funds for the free regional transit initiative will be used towards the purchase of a transit bus and to enhance transit stops, construct associated infrastructure and operate the service for three years. Alberta says the transit initiative is expected to launch in 2024 and will run from the Town of Canmore to the Canmore Nordic Centre and the upgraded Grassi Lakes day-use area.
Alberta’s government is also expanding Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park by incorporating 610 acres – about the size of 462 standard football fields – into the park.
