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Snowmobile route established through Town of Athabasca

Town council passes second and third reading on new Off-Highway Vehicle Bylaw Jan. 24
The Athabasca River Runners Snowmobile Club (pictured at last year’s poker rally) is hosting the 2014 Alberta Snowmobile Association jamboree in February.
The efforts of the Athabasca River Runners Snowmobile Club has finally paid off, as the Town of Athabasca has established a new route that snowmobiles may travel along in order to pass through town. The club originally made a presentation to town council about establishing a designated route back in April 2022.

ATHABASCA — The Town of Athabasca is a snowmobile-friendly community once again with the establishment of a designated route that will allow snowmobiles to pass through town, provided they follow some rules set out in the new off-highway vehicle bylaw.  

Town of Athabasca councillors passed two motions at their Jan. 24 meeting giving second and third reading to Bylaw 001-2023, which states that no one is allowed to operate an off-highway vehicle within town limits except for “snow vehicles” travelling a route that partially follows Highway 2, the Athabasca River and Highway 55. 

Chief administrative officer Rachel Ramey said this bylaw is the follow-up to a presentation from the Athabasca River Runners Snowmobile Club on April 5, 2022, where club members requested a snowmobile route through town. Previously, no off-highway vehicles were allowed within Athabasca town limits. 

Council passed a motion at that meeting directing administration to work with the River Runners to generate a new route map. The new map, along with the bylaw, was brought back to the town council meeting Jan. 10 where it received first reading. 

Ramey noted that this route allows snowmobiles to reach all the town’s amenities, such as if they need to stop for food and gas. 

Cory Jardine, vice president of the River Runners, said it’s been a lengthy process of getting a snowmobile trail reinstated in town. 

“I’d like to thank the Town of Athabasca for working with the Athabasca River Runners Snowmobile Club in an effort to get our town routes reinstated and having the bylaws changed so that snowmobiles can access the services which the town has to offer,” said Jardine. 

“Both snowmobilers and the businesses in town should benefit from these changes.” 

As per the bylaw, the route can only be used between the hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and no snow vehicle may exceed speeds of 30 km/h. All rules prescribed in the Traffic Safety Act (TSA) must also be adhered to. 

Those who contravene the bylaw are subject to a $150 fine on the first offence and a $200 fine on any subsequent offence, along with any fines specified under the TSA.

Kevin Berger, TownandCountryToday.com


Kevin Berger

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