C-TRAN
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The Clark County Public Transit Benefit Area Authority (C-TRAN) is a public agency serving Clark County, Washington, including the cities of Battle Ground, Camas, Vancouver and Washougal. Founded in 1981, C-TRAN operates regular route bus services within Clark County, as well as Dial-A-Ride services for qualified persons with disability (C-VAN) and a reserved, on-demand service in eastern Clark County (The Connector). C-TRAN also provides commuter express and limited services between Clark County and downtown Portland, Oregon, Parkrose-Sumner MAX station (in northeast Portland), Lloyd Center area and the Oregon Health and Science University area.
Based out of its four transit centers (Seventh Street in downtown Vancouver, Vancouver Mall at the Westfield Shoppingtown Vancouver, Salmon Creek and Fisher's Landing), 26 transit routes operate to serve the approximately 350,000 residents of Clark County. C-TRAN's 111 transit coaches and 50 paratransit coaches travel over 14,472 miles daily.
C-TRAN's All-Zone, Honored Citizen, Youth and Summer Blast monthly passes and All-Zone day passes are fully compatible with those of the Portland, Oregon-based TriMet and Portland Streetcar. C-TRAN's all-zone passes and tickets may be used on all TriMet buses, MAX and Portland Streetcar. TriMet passes (but not transfers) marked "A", "H" or "Y", as well as day passes, may be used on C-TRAN conversely. TriMet's two-zone monthly pass marked "3" (i.e., valid for zones 2 and 3) is accepted by C-TRAN without requiring additional surcharge. Two-zone passes marked "1" (i.e., zones 1 and 2) require an 85-cent surcharge when boarding a C-TRAN bus. Some other TriMet and C-TRAN fare instruments may be used by paying the balance in cash when boarding. The only exceptions are the "Premium" buses, on which no fare instruments other than a Premium cash fare and a Premium pass are accepted.
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[edit] Service increases and reorganization in 2000
On July 1, 2000, C-TRAN opened its fourth transit center facility in Fisher's Landing replacing the Evergreen Transit Center (now Evergreen Park & Ride) as its east county hub. Along with the opening of Fisher's Landing Transit Center, many lines serving east Clark County and Vancouver Mall areas have been rerouted and frequency increased. Fisher's Landing Transit Center links eastern Vancouver with Camas, Washougal and Parkrose (in northeast Portland, Oregon). Around the same time, C-TRAN changed its transfer design to conform with that of TriMet, allowing C-TRAN riders to use its transfer to ride on any route in any direction (unlike previously, in which C-TRAN transfers were marked with the route number to prevent riders from using it to make a round trip or a stop-over). The "Day Code" on a C-TRAN transfer (and today, C-TRAN Day Pass) is identical to that of TriMet, consisting of two letters out of the eight-letter pool: M, J, I, E, X, D, B and C.
[edit] Clark County Proposition 1 (2004) and C-TRAN's future
In November 2004 a ballot initiative known as Proposition 1 was defeated by a simple majority of voters. While 46.33 % of eligible voters, or 73,959 ballots, approved this measure to increase the Clark County sales tax by 0.3 % (from the current 7.7 %) to continue the funding of the public transportation, 53.67 % (85,684 votes) rejected the proposition.
The Proposition 1 was intended to provide continued funding sources for C-TRAN after the 1998 statewide repeal of Washington motor vehicle registration tax.
As a result of the lost revenue, effective Sept. 25, 2005, C-TRAN could have reduced its services by 46 %, effectively eliminating about a half of currently existing bus and paratransit services. The planned service reduction will eliminate all services to the north beyond Salmon Creek Transit Center, including commuter services to Ridgefield; all services to the east beyond Fisher's Landing Transit Center, discontinuing all Camas and Washougal services including the Connector; end all Vancouver-Central Portland express bus services; and drastically reduced the frequency of surviving routes (except for the 165-Parkrose Express, whose services would be increased).
Vancouver-Central Portland commuter lines could have been replaced by 205-Interstate 5 Shuttle, 234-Salmon Creek Shuttle and 257-BPA Shuttle, all of which will terminate at TriMet's Delta Park-Vanport Transit Center MAX Station.
In addition to major downsizing of services, C-TRAN proposed to close two park and ride lots, reduce service center hours, end service day at 8 p.m. weekdays and ending most weekend runs. As a result C-TRAN intended to also lay off a large number of employees.
To make up lost revenues the C-TRAN board of directors also considered a fare increase, elimination of free transfers and termination of reciprocal fare agreement with TriMet.
Most of these service reductions were avoided after C-TRAN passed a special ballot measure in September 2005 (see below). C-TRAN still operates all commuter lines to and from downtown Portland's transit mall.
[edit] New fare structure and 2005 service reductions
In May 2005, as the first phase of the two-part service reduction strategy, C-TRAN introduced a new fare structure. Under this scheme, the previously All-Zone commuter services between Portland, Oregon and Clark County with the sole exception of the 165-Parkrose Express were designated "Premium" routes (i.e., Routes 105, 114 that originates in Portland as "105-114", 134, 157, 164, 177 and 190 are all Premium services). No regular monthly or all-day passes from either TriMet or C-TRAN are now accepted on the Premium buses, unless a passenger purchases a $105 Premium pass (which is also valid as an All-Zone pass in C-TRAN, Portland Streetcar and TriMet). A single-ride fare on a Premium bus is $3. Fares on Premium buses are now collected as passengers board, and previously-allowed free rides within Portland's Fareless Square between Portland State University and the Pearl District have been eliminated.
C-TRAN no longer issues or accepts transfers. Passengers now need to either pay on each ride or purchase an all-day pass (either a C-Zone day pass valid only on C-TRAN regular routes for $3, or an All-Zone day pass valid also on TriMet for $5.50). In pursuant to the reciprocal fare agreement, C-TRAN continues to accept TriMet's $4 day passes and TriMet "A" (all-zone) or "3" (zones 2 and 3) passes and the "A" (all-zone) or "3" (zones 2 and 3) seven-day passes.
C-TRAN intended to eliminate nearly half of all transit services effective September 25, 2005, unless additional funding is secured. Another ballot measure, however, brought a new funding. (See below.)
[edit] C-TRAN redistricting and new C-TRAN benefit area ballot measure
On June 1, 2005, the boundaries of the Clark County Public Transit Benefit Area were reduced from the whole Clark County to the area including only the cities of Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center and Yacolt, as well as the unincorporated areas surrounding Vancouver that are part of the Vancouver Urban Growth Boundary. This is done so that, unlike in the failed 2004 Proposition 1, only those who would benefit from C-TRAN services will vote on any future ballot measure to secure new funding for the transit service.
C-TRAN has proposed a special election in September 2005 to decide on whether residents within the new C-TRAN benefit area will pay an additional 0.2 % (from 7.7% to 7.9% in Vancouver) sales tax to maintain the current C-TRAN service level.
The measure passed by a wide majority. C-TRAN continues to operate, and now with fresh funding, is expanding.
[edit] 2006 Service
C-Tran continues to run 7 days a week and on holidays. Holidays are operated with reduced local service similar to Sunday's service, trips to and from Portland are less frequent, some commuter routes may not run. On weekdays local service starts at about 6:15am and ends about 9:15, commuter service to Portland begins at 5:20am with the last trip to Vancouver at 6:30pm. On Saturdays local service starts at about 8am and ends at about 8:30pm, commuter routes do not run excluding the Parkrose Express that starts routes at about 8am and the last trip back to Vancouver at about 6:40pm. Sunday service starts at about 8am and runs to about 5:30pm with no service to Portland. The Connector runs weekdays from 5:30am to 7:30pm, its based on the "Dial a ride" system. C-Tran operates 17 local routes along with "C-Van" Paratransit and Connector "Dial A Ride" service. Most routes can be expected to run every 30 minutes. The most used route is "37 Mill Plain" Fares are 1.25 per ride, transfers are not issued, a $3 C-Zone day pass may be purchased on every bus. C-Tran operates 9 commuter routes, a ride on all these buses are considered premium fare and cost $3 for one ride, no transfers issues.(Excluding Parkrose Express, the fare for this route is 2.25, one way) A pass may be purchased for $105 a month, this pass works on all premium express routes, Trimet Buses, Trimet's MAX, and C-Tran local routes. C-Tran fairs work as follows, a local trip is 1.25, no transfer. The Parkrose Express route is 2.25, no transfers. Premium Express buses are $3, no transfers. A C-Zone day pass is $3 and works on local buses only. An All-Zone All-Day pass is 5.50 and allows rides on all C-Tran buses (Excluding Premium Routes) including Parkrose Express, and all Trimet routes. For an adult monthly C-Zone Pass it will cost $44, a senior pass is $21, there is no youth c-zone pass. For an adult All-Zone monthly pass it will cost $78, a senior pass is 36.00, a youth pass/disabled is $18. A premium monthly pass is $105. C-Tran does not accept or issue transfers, C-Tran will take Trimet passes for all-zone at no additional fee.
[edit] TriMet in Clark County (C-Zone)
Trimet runs one route to 7th street transit center, the "6 MLK". This is a frequent service route and runs 15 minutes or better everyday, all day. This is the only bus route to and from Portland on Saturdays or past 6:30 PM and runs until midnight and starts at about 5 AM. Plans to extend Trimet's MAX Light Rail to Vancouver have been drawn up from Delta Park and Portland Airport but Clark County voters have not approved a tax increase to fund the extension.
[edit] Problems
C-Tran is often criticised for many reasons. People often criticize C-Tran for poor service compared to Portland's Trimet, including issues like lack of transfer and high prices. People also say that buses run too infrequently and the service hours are very poor. Many of these complaints are due to the lackluster service C-Tran provides compared to Trimet. People also don't like the fact that the MAX does not come over to Vancouver, and complain that C-Tran should do something to get light rail extended to Vancouver. People complain that C-Tran is just a bad option compared to driving to Portland, because of poor service planning. Unfortunately, Clark County residents haven't approved a tax increase to cover costs to rectify these problems (see above).
