JASPER – Traffic congestion is becoming a growing issue at the town’s two remaining gas stations, according to a letter sent to council.
Mayor Richard Ireland told the rest of council on Tuesday (June 10) that both the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Jasper had sent a letter asking the municipality to look at ways to alleviate some congestion.
“The expectation is that congestion will get worse as the busy summer season continues and hopefully continues to flourish,” Ireland said.
Only two gas stations remain in Jasper after two others were destroyed in last summer’s wildfire.
Michael Fark, director of recovery, told council in March that these stations would likely not be replaced this summer since there were specific regulations around gas stations, and the fuel tanks will have to be excavated and replaced at the damaged sites.
He added that leaseholders at the time had not brought forward any permit applications that could meet the timeline for reopening this summer.
Coun. Helen Kelleher-Empey agreed with the letter, noting she lived near one of the gas stations and had previously raised the issue.
“Yesterday, I saw a kid just about knocked down because traffic went in, traffic came out going right across the crosswalk,” Kelleher-Empey said. “It’s quite dangerous, and I do think we need to come up with a solution.”
Coun. Kathleen Waxer noted she had also seen that congestion “and the potential for disaster at that spot.”
Besides traffic management, another issue was the amount of fuel that will be available within town over the summer.
“There has been discussion on that point,” Fark said. “The challenge is we would need a vendor to come forward with a proposal, and that is very unlikely to occur due to both the cost and permitting process that would be required to allow for temporary fuelling stations.”
He added that this also didn’t fall within the mandate or capacity of Parks Canada or the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre.
Kelleher-Empey asked if they could set up accounts with local businesses so they may utilize the fuelling station at the Parks Canada compound.
Fark replied this idea was currently being explored, but it was Parks Canada’s cardlock that the RCMP and municipal vehicles were allowed to use.
This would only be used to divert large commercial traffic such as large trucks and buses, while the gas stations in town would be for residents and smaller vehicles. Parks Canada would also require a cost-recovery mechanism.
“I cannot say that I am optimistic that we will be able to find a mechanism for that, but it is something that is being explored,” Fark said.
Coun. Ralph Melnyk said residents had a responsibility to time their fuelling to parts of the day when the gas stations may be less busy.
Council will return to this matter at next week’s meeting. This will give staff an opportunity to come back with options.
