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 and three-day "Adventure" 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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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.
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.
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.)
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.