Port Moody may revive Rocky Point Park’s ‘Shoreline Shuttle’ by summer 2026

The City of Port Moody may revive a defunct shuttle service to Rock Point Park by the summer of 2026.

On May 13, Mayor Meghan Lahti introduced a motion aiming to establish a seasonal “Shoreline Shuttle” pilot program from June to August 2026, aiming to boost accessibility, reduce traffic and utilize new revenues from the introduction of paid parking.

“Families and seniors are the main groups that have reached out and said this is something that they would really like to see happen,” Lahti said. “At peak times, when parking demand is high, this is a reliable mode of transportation.”

The service would link Inlet Centre and parts of Moody Centre neighbourhoods to Rocky Point Park, making the city’s main waterfront attraction more accessible to those without vehicles or the means to pay.

Port Moody introduced a similar pilot program in 2018 with a start-up budget of $50,000, but discontinued the initiative after one season due to budget limitations and ridership challenges. 

Lahti’s motion argued the success of the pay parking program, which has added more than $140,000 to city coffers in six months, provides a funding source to bring the shuttle back.

Most of the upfront costs of the original service, such as signage, can still be utilized, and the program could be revived for as little as $8,000 annually, according to Lahti.

“The main costs have already been covered,” she said. “There may be some tweaking to do here and there, but (staff) basically have the template for a plan.”

The motion proposed the pilot’s initial costs could be drawn from the city’s parking reserve, which currently has a balance of $72,500, though Lahti added sponsorships could subsidize the city’s cost in the future.

Staff would report in October 2026 to evaluate ridership and determine whether the program should become permanent.

Several councillors, however, said they were uncomfortable voting to establish a program without seeing a project plan and cost estimates first.

Council ultimately voted to defer endorsing the pilot until staff returned with a more detailed report.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki noted the original program was discontinued because it was not considered good value, and warned that seven years of inflation would escalate previous cost estimates.

She also pointed out that the proposed route is already walkable, and questioned whether usership would actually increase. 

Lurbiecki also reiterated her opposition to the paid parking program, stating the shuttle service would essentially be subsidized by park users.

“Things like this can sound great, they can look great, and maybe some of them are actually great, but I do think we need to dig deeper,” Lurbiecki said. “Parking revenue is not free money. It’s hard-earned money from our residents that they now have to spend to visit a public park.”

Lurbiecki introduced a motion for staff to report back with a review of potential priority uses for use of paid parking revenues, which passed unanimously.

Coun. Kyla Knowles, who spearheaded the city’s move to introduce paid parking, largely agreed, stating she’d rather see the paid-parking revenues go toward tax relief. 

She said she wouldn’t approve the program until she sees a feasibility report, adding the city should be looking at other funding sources besides its parking reserves.

“Just to immediately say, ‘Let’s go use that money’ is a little problematic to me,” Knowles said. “The use needs to match the value and the costs.”

Knowles added the communications plan alongside the program needs to be robust.

Lahti acknowledged the original pilot program suffered from a lack of community awareness and the short timeframe it was in place, but noted residents asked for its return during the last election cycle.

“I think that the awareness is there,” she said. “Having our own service allows us to be able to adapt it to specific community needs.”

Coun. Diana Dilworth was supportive of reviving the program, noting the introduction of paid parking might encourage stronger ridership.

“This is going to be a bigger incentive for people to park somewhere else and then jump on the shuttle,” Dilworth said.

Coun. Callan Morrison agreed, noting the program is a “creative way” to remove cost barriers for people who don’t want to pay for a bus or transit.

Coun. Amy Lubik introduced an amendment for staff to explore expanding the service to neighbourhoods underserved by transit if the program is made permanent.