1) You just raised fares last May, why raise them again?
Yes, fares increased by about a nickel per ride on May 1, 2008. That fare increase was part of a C-TRAN Board of Directors two-year plan to increase fares in small, regular increments – once in May 2008 and again in September 2009. The intent of these modest increases was to help offset normal inflation for fuel and operating costs.
Since that plan was put in place, fuel prices have shot up for most of this year and the funding C-TRAN receives through local sales tax has dropped 2.2 %. These changes, in addition to the climbing cost and ridership on C-VAN paratransit service, represent a $3.8 million decline in available funds.
| Changes from 2007 Budget Estimates | |
| Expense: Fuel Costs | $1.0 million over budget estimates |
| Expense: C-VAN Demand | $1.3 million over budget estimates |
| Revenue: Sales Tax | $1.5 million under budget estimates |
| Net Negative Impact to Budget | $3.8 million |
Currently, passenger fares cover nearly 21% of what it costs C-TRAN to provide the service.
2) Why raise fares when it covers so little?
Every little bit helps. Together with selective budget reductions and use of some capital committed funds, the fare increase will help C-TRAN balance its budget and maintain service levels at a time when ridership is increasing.
3) What % of operational expenses do fares currently pay for per service type? What is the proposal expected to cover?
Farebox Recovery is the amount that riders pay toward the cost of the service. In this proposal, projected farebox recovery for the rest of this year and for 2009 looks like this:
Farebox Recovery*
| Service Type | 2008 Estimate | 2009 Estimate |
| Local | 14% | 18% |
| Express | 56% | 56% |
| Connector | 6% | 6% |
| Fixed Route | 21% | 23% |
| C-VAN | 3% | 4% |
*Farebox Recovery = cost of service (by type) divided by farebox revenue
4) How did you come up with the proposed pass prices?
The price of most monthly passes is set at an amount that provides the frequent rider with a discount when the pass is used more than 35 times in a month. It looks like this:
| Current Fare | Proposed Fare |
| $1.30 C-Zone Cash Fare | $1.50 C-Zone Cash Fare |
| x 35 Rides per Month | x 35 Rides per Month |
| =$45.00 (rounded) | =$52.00 (rounded) |
5) If that’s how it works, why does the price of the proposed All-Zone cash fare stay the same, but the proposed All-Zone pass go up?
Staff is recommending no change to the All-Zone cash fare of $2.35 because it already adequately covers the $1.00 fare C-TRAN pays TriMet for rides on their system Staff is also recommending that C-TRAN’s All-Zone monthly pass sell for $86.00 to match the price of TriMet’s All-Zone pass. Keeping fares close to the same price limits any advantage riders have by buying one system’s fares over the other. For example, if C-TRAN’s pass price is less than TriMet’s, then Oregon residents may want to purchase a C-TRAN pass resulting in C-TRAN having to pay TriMet $1.00 every time that pass is used on TriMet.
6) Why does C-TRAN have to pay TriMet?
C-TRAN and TriMet have an agreement to reimburse each other for the riders who transfer from one system to another. This agreement makes it possible for riders to move easily between the two systems. The exchange is about $1.00 per rider for each one-way trip.
7) Doesn’t raising fares discourage ridership – won’t you lose riders?
Yes, whenever fares increase there are some riders that choose to ride no longer. However, based on current ridership growth and the cost of fuel, it is estimated that even with the proposed fare increase, fixed route ridership will increase by 4% in 2009 and 10% in 2010.
8) What else are you doing to reduce costs?
As a public agency, C-TRAN is continually striving to make the most of the tax dollars authorized through public vote. In 2005, C-TRAN took several actions to cut costs such as streamlining the budget and the elimination of programs not directly related to core bus service. C-TRAN is currently trimming the 2009-10 budget, has adopted service standards for maximizing ridership, and is utilizing bus technologies that save on maintenance and fuel costs, is experimenting with smaller vehicles, and is considering other options like bus stop consolidation to increase service efficiencies, operating buses on freeway shoulders to by-pass congestion and the closing of the 7th Street Passenger Service Office.
Discounted Fares
9) Why are you proposing to reduce the discounted All-Zone cash fare for youth, disabled and seniors?
The discounted All-Zone cash fare is being adjusted from $1.20 to $1.15 to be half of the All-Zone cash fare of $2.35 (rounded) as required by law.
10) Why are you proposing a new RYD C-Zone Pass?
The creation of a new RYD C-Zone pass will offer a discounted pass option for riders who travel most often in Clark County while retaining an RYD All-Zone pass for riders who travel on C-TRAN and TriMet. Currently, the RYD All-Zone pass is used about 46 times per month for travel on C-TRAN. This heavy use results in an average fare per ride of only $0.43. The new RYD C-Zone pass will be priced more appropriately for travel within Clark County while the RYD All-Zone pass will be priced higher for travel between Clark County and Portland.
11) Why are you proposing to double the price of the RYD All-Zone monthly pass?
As noted above, most pass prices are set based on the cash fare for that category x 35 rides per month. In May 2005, the number of rides used to set the pass price was reduced from 35 rides per month to 17. Using the 17 rides per month to set the pass price, the RYD All-Zone was only $20.00, resulting in an average fare per ride (the amount that riders pay toward the cost of the service) of only $0.43 per ride. Because C-TRAN pays TriMet about $1 per rider for each one-way trip taken on TriMet, the RYD All-Zone pass price of $40.00 will help recover some of the cost C-TRAN pays TriMet for these trips.
| Current Fare | Proposed Fare |
| $1.20 Current RYD All-Zone Cash Fare | $1.15 Proposed RYD All-Zone Cash Fare |
| x 17 Rides per Month | x 35 Rides per Month |
| =$20.00 (rounded) | =$40.00 (rounded) |
Other Fares
12) Why aren’t Express fares being increased?
Express Pass fares were doubled as part of the May 2005 fare increase – the monthly pass went from $52 to $105 per month. Since that time, express fare revenue has increased nearly 300%. Express fares currently cover 56% of the cost, a much higher percentage of the per ride cost than other fares.
C-VAN Paratransit
13) Why are you changing the C-VAN pass?
C-VAN is very expensive to operate (about $35 per ride) and the deeply discounted monthly pass places too much of the financial burden on C-TRAN and the taxpayers that support the agency. Currently, C-TRAN subsidizes 97 percent of the cost of providing C-VAN service. Changing the monthly pass to the C-Zone rate matches the cost that fixed route passengers pay and creates a more equitable fare structure. Since most C-VAN customers travel less than 8 times per month, the financial burden should be minimal.
14) Why aren’t you trying to recover more of the cost to ride from the riders?
C-TRAN understands that C-VAN customers are dependent upon the service. C-TRAN also recognizes that some customers may be on a limited income and that any increase could be a burden. C-TRAN will also be meeting with riders, care providers and other stakeholders to generate strategies on how to contain costs and maintain service for those who need it most.
It should be noted that under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) transit fares for disabled riders can be set at twice the full fare price to help offset the expense of this specialized service. However, the ADA in Washington State is interpreted as more restrictive and only allows charging the transit system's full fare for these rides.