Port Moody to revive Shoreline Shuttle for major summer events in 2026

Port Moody is bringing back a scaled-down version of its Shoreline Shuttle next summer.

On Tuesday, council unanimously endorsed a model for the program which focuses on providing service during popular event days during the summer.

Councillors agreed it struck the right balance between transportation management and the city’s strained budget.

“I have a feeling this is going to be quite successful,” said Coun. Diana Dilworth. “We have to keep trying to get our residents out of cars and get them to free events or events by donation, by all sorts of different means.”

The Shoreline Shuttle was first introduced as a pilot program in 2018 but was shuttered after one season due to budget limitations and ridership challenges. During last summer, however, Mayor Meghan Lahti argued the program should be revamped with monies brought in through a new paid parking program.

The new low-cost model selected by council will use a bus supplied through the Port Moody Seniors Friendship Society to run service on select high-traffic days, including Golden Spike Days, Canada Day, Rib Fest, and Car Free Day. 

An amendment also added the Summer Sunday concert days for a total of 17 days of operation in 2026 up to 57, with a budget of just over $16,000.

The staff report noted event weekends produced the strongest ridership in 2018.

The route and stops would mirror the city’s 2018 shuttle pilot, which connected popular destinations such as Rocky Point Park, St. Johns Street, Newport Village, Klahanie and Suter Brook Village.

Staff noted the shuttle could serve as a free alternative to driving to Rocky Point Park – particularly relevant as summer parking pressure continues to worsen.

Council’s decision was made after discussions over cost, past challenges, and the city’s financial priorities. 

Staff’s original recommendation initially included running the service on weekends during the summer and a budget of $38,000 before council trimmed it down.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki was the most hesitant, warning the proposal comes at a time when residents are already frustrated with recent tax increases and urging council to focus on core services.

“I struggle with this a bit, because we [are] having conversations around a very high tax increase over the last few years, and when we did our budget survey, we’re really hearing back from the community to focus on core services — the must-haves versus the nice-to-haves,” she said.

Lurbiecki said she does not feel confident demand would be strong enough to justify the cost, particularly because the proposed route circles the already well-serviced downtown core, and doesn’t extend into neighbourhoods with fewer transportation options like Glenayre and Heritage Woods.

She acknowledged the shuttle could be effective on event days but urged caution about committing to a full slate of summer weekends.

“I would hate for a rainy Saturday to happen on many Saturdays in the summers, and we’re not getting a return on our investment,” she said, adding the program “just doesn’t seem to fit with the conversations we’ve been having around our budgeting.”

Coun. Samantha Agtarap agreed with the concern about the route, and said reducing the frequency of service would be a good “meet-in-the-middle” solution that tests public interest without committing to the full 40-day service originally proposed.

“It seems like a low-cost option to try this year,” she said, adding she wants data to determine whether travel patterns have changed now that paid parking and e-bike/e-scooter share programs are in place.

Coun. Diana Dilworth said she supports giving the shuttle a second chance despite the mixed results of the 2018 pilot.

“Just because we did something that didn’t work seven years ago, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to work now,” she said, adding the city’s transportation context has changed with pay parking now in effect.

She also highlighted that the 2018 shuttle was fully sponsored and introduced a motion directing staff to explore sponsorship opportunities for 2026.

“This is an opportunity for businesses [and] nonprofit organizations . . . to look at participating with the city and provide sponsorship for this shuttle,” she said. Her motion passed unanimously.

Coun. Kyla Knowles said she was initially unsure whether to support the plan but ultimately backed it after hearing colleagues’ suggestions to narrow its scope.

“The fact that paid parking is now in place – this is a completely new context,” she said. “This is about traffic management at the end of the day.”

Knowles added he partnership with the Seniors Friendship Society, which will provide the shuttle bus, “makes such a difference to us in costs” and helps justify revisiting the idea.

With the event-focused approach now approved, staff will review sponsorship possibilities, secure operating approvals from TransLink, and return to council with data after the 2026 season.