The City of Port Moody has decided to cancel plans to upgrade the Mount Royal Drive walkway, a steep shortcut used by many residents to reach Clarke Drive. Instead of moving forward with a new path, council voted to remove the existing structure altogether, citing soaring costs and budget shortfalls.
On July 22, council members were presented with a final cost estimate for the walkway project. Originally approved in November 2023 with a budget of $350,000, the project’s price had almost doubled. Staff reported a $330,000 shortfall, with the total now reaching $680,000 due to higher construction costs, complex site access, and unexpected expenses related to concrete work.
The walkway has served as a vital link for students from Port Moody Secondary and nearby residents, especially those living north of Seaview Drive. It was popular for being a direct and time-saving route. The proposed upgrades would have included concrete stairs, new handrails, asphalt paths, fencing, and signage. It also aimed to solve a legal issue, as part of the walkway crosses private land. The property owner raised concerns in 2022, prompting the city to shift the path onto public land.
Despite initial support from several councillors, including Kyla Knowles and Callan Morrison, the rising costs proved too difficult to justify. Knowles expressed regret for backing out, noting that the city could not proceed in a cost-effective way.
Morrison echoed similar concerns. Although he supported the idea last year, he admitted he was already hesitant about the original $350,000 budget. Going beyond that amount, he said, was no longer reasonable.
To reduce costs, city staff proposed a new plan using cheaper materials such as wood and crushed stone. While this version would meet trail standards, it still required an extra $238,000. Even with reduced quality, the project would cost $564,000, far beyond what council members were willing to approve. Staff also noted that, while important, the walkway may not rank as highly as other transportation priorities based on its overall impact.
With funding options limited, another solution was proposed: remove the walkway entirely. This option would cost about $50,000 and involve taking out the wooden stairs, removing the part that crossed private land, and landscaping the area to make it inaccessible.
Staff said they explored negotiating access rights with the property owner, but the proposal was declined. As a result, the city had no legal grounds to maintain or rebuild the existing path.
Councillor Amy Lubik opposed the removal. She acknowledged the high costs but argued that the walkway still served an essential role in the community. Although only 29 homes are on Mount Royal Drive, many more people use the path each day. Council previously heard from one resident who estimated that 50 to 60 people use the walkway daily, including students on their way to school.
Lubik said that such paths were a common and useful part of growing up in the area, offering safer routes than busy streets like Clarke Road or Mariner Road.
Despite these arguments, the council voted 5-1 to remove the walkway, with Morrison being the only member opposed. The vote to upgrade the path had earlier failed in a 3-3 deadlock, as Mayor Meghan Lahti was absent.
The decision leaves regular users of the walkway with a much longer and steeper detour. Instead of a quick shortcut, they will now have to take the winding sidewalk up to Clarke Street.
Some residents question whether the closure will stop people from using the path. Enzo Mastroianni, a resident who urged council to fund the upgrades, said people continued using the trail even when it was temporarily closed due to safety issues. Barriers placed by the city were removed by residents, he said, showing how important the path remains.
He criticized the decision to remove the stairs and shut the path down, calling it a mistake after 50 years of use by the community.
The outcome leaves many wondering whether Port Moody will eventually revisit the project or leave the popular shortcut as a memory of what once connected the neighborhood.
