Niagara Parks Announces Plans for New Visitor Transportation System
- Request for Proposals seeks innovative and sustainable ideas for a new visitor transportation system that links Niagara Parks sites and attractions
- Opportunity to enhance the overall guest experience throughout the high-traffic tourism area overlooking Niagara Falls on the Canadian side
- New system will decrease carbon emissions while improving traffic congestion by
reducing the number of vehicles in Queen Victoria Park
Niagara Falls, ON – Niagara Parks has officially launched a call for proposals process for a new visitor transportation system that will enhance the guest experience while linking Niagara Parks sites and experiences with a focus on the core tourism area of Queen Victoria Park.
From the beginning, Niagara Parks has operated modes of transportation to facilitate access to the stunning viewpoints along the scenic Niagara Parkway overlooking Niagara Falls. The principle is included in the historic Niagara Parks Act (1885) that states that the Commission construct and operate incline railways, aerial cars, lifts, and works to assist the public in reaching and viewing points of interest in the Parks.
From early steam trains and trollies to incline railways and bus systems, there is the opportunity now to establish a new and modern transportation system that meets the growing demands of guests, while addressing challenges related to traffic and flow throughout the popular tourism area.
Welcoming millions of guests each year, Queen Victoria Park encompasses the lands that hug the Niagara Gorge overlooking Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, including some of the destination’s top attractions like Journey Behind the Falls, the Niagara City Cruises Boat Tour, WildPlay’s Zipline to the Falls and the Niagara Parks Power Station, locally sourced dining, shopping, manicured gardens and pathways, and more. Over the past several years, Niagara Parks has made significant investments in the area, from opening a brand-new attraction, the Niagara Parks Power Station and Tunnel, to the $22 million redevelopment of Table Rock Centre. There are also plans underway to redevelop the historic Toronto Power and Ontario Power Generating Stations, potentially adding two additional guest experiences and visitor demand generators for the area.
In 2018, Niagara Parks established the Queen Victoria Park Master Plan to guide the future redevelopment of the area. Additionally, the City of Niagara Falls, with the participation of a range of tourism stakeholders including Niagara Parks, recently completed a “Connectivity Study” that examined future needs for visitor movement in the destination. Both documents, in addition to Niagara Parks’ 10-year Strategic Plan and
the Niagara Parks Act will guide the call for proposals process for a new visitor transportation system.
The new visitor transportation system will:
- Enhance the overall guest experience by allowing seamless travel and connection between key Niagara Parks sites, while also acting as a new visitor attraction and visitor demand generator for the area.
- Present an environmentally sustainable and fully accessible solution that decreases carbon emissions and improves traffic congestion and visitor flow by reducing the number of vehicles within Queen Victoria Park.
- Provide a new revenue-generating opportunity for Niagara Parks, while reducing operating expenses, similar to other successful tenant partner agreements the organization currently manages.
For more information on the opportunity, including the link to the RFP document, please
visit niagaraparks.com/visitortransportation.
Quotes
“The introduction of a new visitor transportation system at Niagara Parks has the potential to transform the guest experience within Queen Victoria Park, which welcomes millions of people each year due to its spectacular location overlooking the Falls,” said Niagara Parks Chair April Jeffs. “Building on recent investments made at Table Rock Centre and the Niagara Parks Power Station, a new visitor transportation system will provide seamless connection for our guests, while alleviating traffic congestion within this popular tourism area.”
Media assets are available here.
About Niagara Parks
Since its establishment in 1885, Niagara Parks has remained a self-financed agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, entrusted to preserve and protect the land surrounding Niagara Falls and the Niagara River. Today, Niagara Parks boasts gardens, a horticulture school, recreation, golf courses, restaurants, heritage and historic sites, gift shops and, of course, Niagara Falls. In short, natural landscapes, history, family fun, hiking, culinary delights, attractions and adventure.
For more information, please visit niagaraparks.com or contact:
Katy Wassenaar, Manager, Public Affairs
kwassenaar@niagaraparks.com
(905) 356-2241 ext. 2224
Stay Connected:
Facebook: @NiagaraParks
Instagram: @niagaraparks
Twitter: @NiagaraParks
#NiagaraParks
Close and