Drivers in Port Moody won't be making music on their morning commute after council issued a quick end to a proposal for a so-called "musical highway."
Under the proposal, a series of rumble strips, suggested for a one-kilometre stretch of Barnet Highway near Reed Point Marina, would have been installed in specific distances so that, when driven over, a musical note is created. Similar projects have been installed in New Mexico, California, Japan and Denmark.
The Arts and Culture Committee first discussed the idea in 2014 and presented the report to council last month. But at Tuesday's meeting, council gave the proposal less than stellar reviews, with concerns about how the area's rainy climate would affect the project, its potential to distract drivers and whether it would, in fact, draw tourists to visit Port Moody or simply drive through it.
Mayor Mike Clay suggested the nearly $60,000 could be better spent on an artist, rather than engineers, and questioned the value of a public art project that essentially encouraged more people to drive.
The proposal to get a staff report was defeated in a 4-2 vote, with councillors Rick Glumac and Zoe Royer in favour and Coun. Rob Vagramov, who was present earlier in the meeting, absent for the vote.
