Editor:
I hope that the Parks Canada superintendent for Banff field unit, Banff Town council and Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau will invest the time to rethink the Banff Ave. pedestrian zone debacle in light of the recent tragedy in Jasper. The prelude to the Jasper fire disaster has been described as “a perfect storm.”
A mass evacuation strategy in Banff has, according to our mayor, indicated an estimated time frame of two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours to clear the businesses and residences on the south side of the bridge. That will be too long, even in an unlikely, perfectly run scenario.
It is a fact that the “theoretical modelling” presented to Town council allows for only one vehicle per household to be saved. Many homes in Banff have two or three vehicles. Is there also included, a proposal to plow the pedestrian zone infrastructure out of the way with heavy machinery? If so, put it where?
Another obvious concern is the response of emergency vehicles, already currently adversely impacted by the pedestrian zone. In traffic gridlock, lights and sirens will not help.
It was encouraging to read the article in the July 25 edition of the Outlook "Jasper wildfires renew calls to boot Banff pedestrian zone, review evacuation plans" in which a real fire behaviour expert, Marie-Pierre Rogeau, is quoted. Ms. Rogeau has a PhD in fire behaviour-related science.
Have the above-mentioned individuals and organizations consulted their respective retained legal counsel with regard to conceivable class action lawsuits?
I am hopeful we can all take the time to rethink the retention of a barricade on Banff’s most important evacuation route.
Peggy Smith,
Banff
