Application of Variable Speed Limits Along the Trans Canada Highway in Banff National Park

The Trans Canada Highway (TCH) is to be twinned from the Castle Mountain Interchange to the
Alberta/BC border within Banff National Park. In conjunction with the twinning of the Trans
Canada Highway, Parks Canada is looking to initiate several Intelligent Transportation Systems
within the park that will address an improved operation and safety performance of the highway.
One such initiative focuses on the application of a variable speed limit to address speeding
during poor weather conditions, congested periods or when wildlife is actively crossing the
highway.

This paper attempts to address the following questions with respect to the application of a
variable speed limit within the Banff National Park:

• What is the current legislation for variable speed limits on roadways?
• What is the safety performance of the Trans Canada Highway within Banff National
• Park?
• What effect will a variable speed limit have on reducing the collision rate?
• What criteria will determine a reduction or increase in the posted speed limit?
• What process will be employed to effectively reduce/increase the posted speed limit
• within the Park?
• Under who’s authority (RCMP/Parks Canada) will the managing of a variable posted

speed limit fall?