Port Moody’s free Shoreline Shuttle bus service has made its last stop.
But the city will look to formalize a verbal agreement with The Club seniors' group for the use of its bus to operate a limited shuttle service between the civic complex and Rocky Point Park during special events such as RibFest and Canada Day celebrations.
Jeff Moi, Port Moody’s general manager of engineering and operations, told council at its meeting Tuesday such a service could cost up to $10,000 for three event weekends. That would pay for a driver, fuel and additional insurance, and the service would be advertised in advance of events where it’s being deployed.
At the urging of Coun. Diana Dilworth, the city will also try to secure sponsorship to offset some of that cost.
Last year, The Panatch Group, a Richmond-based developer behind the planned condo project at 50 Electronic Ave., pitched in $20,000 towards the $49,000 cost of operating the Shoreline Shuttle, which used a 20-passenger bus to run a half-hour loop with 13 stops between the civic complex and Moody Centre on summer weekends.
A report presented to council said the service provided 3,700 rides last summer, or an average of nine rides per hour in the 409 hours it operated. Based upon the full operating cost, that worked out to approximately $13.50 per passenger.
“I looked up taxi quotes but I should have looked up limo quotes,” said Mayor Rob Vagramov of the cost, adding, “Not every idea pans out exactly as we’d hoped.”
The cost of the new arrangement will be forwarded to the city’s finance committee to identify a source for the funds.
