Port Moody is hoping to prevent parking hassles once the Evergreen Line opens next year, and it's asking for input.
On Tuesday, PoMo council raised the spectre of hundreds of drivers circling neighbourhoods in Suter Brook, Coronation Park and Moody Centre looking for parking so they can catch a SkyTrain.
The city is expecting people will drive to Moody Centre and Inlet stations instead of taking the bus and is looking for help to stop them taking up space on city streets for long periods.
"We are looking at the impacts to residential areas and we are looking to mitigate them," said Mark Halpin, transportation planner.
Councillors approved the consultation plan, which includes an open house June 16 at Kyle Centre from 7 to 9 p.m. to discuss the following options:
• a flat four-hour parking limit (likely between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) that would apply to residents and others;
• allowing residents to register their vehicle's licence plate with the city for unlimited parking on city streets while non-residents would have to adhere to current three-hour time limits. (A similar plan is in place in New Westminster near Royal Columbian Hospital and Sapperton Station.)
But Mayor Mike Clay said the consultation should be more open-ended while other councillors discussed options for more park-and-ride facilities in the city.
Clay said residents in the affected areas — those within 800 m of the stations — may be unhappy with not having unfettered access to curbside parking outside their homes and he wants a larger discussion with residents.
"Ask the bigger questions," Clay suggested.
Whether the city should get into the business of requiring developers to put park-and-ride spots in their developments was another idea suggested by Coun. Rob Vagramov.
But that was shot down by other councillors, including Zoe Royer, who said they may be hard to find, and Coun. Diana Dilworth, who worried the city would be "paving paradise" to put up more parking lots.
While the immediate plan of asking residents about parking restrictions was approved, councillors will also discuss more park-and-ride options in a future workshop.
Currently, the park-and-ride at Moody Centre has 309 parking spots but it will grow to more than 400 with construction this summer. And while there is no designated parking at the Inlet Centre station, it will have bus service and pedestrian access, and the city is working with the Evergreen Line Project Team for bike facilities, a city spokesperson said.
As well, both PoMo stations will have "kiss-and-ride" drop-off locations. The Moody Centre station will have a passenger drop location at the edge of the parking lots at Spring and William streets while the drop location for Inlet Centre will be on the Barnet Service Road, south of the Ioco Road/Barnet Highway intersection.
