A weekend trolley bus service linking Port Moody's Inlet Centre, Rocky Point Park and Moody Centre could be in place as a pilot program next summer — and the city is hoping TransLink will help pay for it.
In a report presented to council at its Oct. 24 meeting, Mayor Mike Clay said the service would help relieve some of the traffic and parking congestion in the park and nearby Brewers Row during the summer months, from June through August.
“Parking at Rocky Point Park and the surrounding area is now regularly at or beyond capacity during the peak hours in the summer and, without good transit service, there would be a higher likelihood of people visiting the breweries and pubs, and later driving,” Clay said in his report.
Providing a “hop-on/hop-off” trolley bus that travels in a loop from Inlet Centre to Moody Centre and connects various parking areas at schools and city lots to Rocky Point Park, would encourage local residents to leave their cars at home as well as make it easier for visitors from other communities to attend festivals and events at the park.
“This is a solution for parking congestion as well as an economic driver to move people to areas of the city they might not otherwise visit,” Clay said, noting the city’s compact size and linear geography make it ideal for such a small-scale, localized transit service.
A round trip, accounting for traffic and stops, would take about 25 to 30 minutes. The proposed service would run from 4 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and 2 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.
Clay estimates the cost of contracting for a trolley and driver would be about $27,000 for the 10-week pilot program, plus another $10,000 for signage and staff time.
Some of that cost could be recouped from TransLink. At its meeting, council directed staff to confirm cost estimates for the service and to explore funding options with the regional transit authority.
“We know that TransLink subsidizes fare boxes on transit at around the 55 to 60%; my opinion is if they were running this service, it would be costing them 60%, so if we were running it around the city, we’ll just ask them for 60% and we’ll absorb what they would charge at the fare box,” Clay said. “It means they’re delivering the service for the same cost as if it was a transit bus.”
Clay said the city could then decide whether to cover some of its expenses by charging a fare for the trolley ride or just offer it for free.
Coun. Rob Vagramov called the proposed service “a very unique approach to some of the congestion issues” at the park.
If the pilot project proceeds and is a success, the city could hold a referendum about funding the service to operate year-round.
