Proposed Elimination of C-VAN Monthly and Day Passes
Due to increasing costs and in preparation for the launch of Hop Fastpass, C-TRAN is proposing a fare change that would affect paratransit service in the coming year.
Proposal: C-TRAN is proposing to discontinue monthly and day passes for C-VAN, effective when the Hop Fastpass electronic payment system is connected to C-VAN in late 2017 or early 2018. C-TRAN is not proposing any changes to fixed-route or Vanpool fares in 2017.
Under this proposed change, customers would pay the single-ride fare each time they use C-VAN. Discontinuing paratransit monthly and day passes would match the practice of many other transit agencies who provide similar service. The current C-VAN single-ride fare of $1.80 will not change under this proposal.
Background: C-TRAN has about 1,270 active C-VAN customers each month traveling, on average, about 18,800 trips. This is anticipated to rise substantially in the next five years. Because C-VAN provides specialized door-to-door service for many who otherwise would have no other option to live out their daily lives, C-TRAN must look at ways it can preserve this service for the future.
One trip on C-VAN costs $44 for C-TRAN to provide compared to $6 per trip on fixed-route. With a cash fare of just $1.80, passengers who, today, use a monthly pass pay for about 33 rides each month (33 x $1.80 = $59.40; a C-VAN monthly pass is $59). Under that scenario, many riders who ride 33 times or less per month will not see much of an increase, if any, for using the service. For passengers who use C-VAN more than 33 times per month, they would be encouraged to group their trips more efficiently as well as consider using a combination of C-VAN along with fixed-route bus service.
Requiring all C-VAN passengers to contribute a small portion towards each and every trip is one small way that will help maintain paratransit service while minimizing impacts to other needed services.
The paratransit fare change was first introduced to the C-TRAN Board of Directors in February. C-TRAN will host public open house meetings on the proposed changes on the dates listed below:
Wednesday, March 22 • 5:00-6:30 PM
Marshall Center Craft Room, (just to the right of front entry doors)
1009 E McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver
Served by Route 30 and The Vine
Tuesday, March 28 • 5:00-6:30 PM
Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, 2nd Floor
3501 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver
Served by routes 30, 37, 41, 65, 80, 92, 164, 177
Thursday, March 30 • 5:30 PM
CCAC Monthly Meeting,
C-TRAN Administration Building
2425 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver
Served by Route 30 and The Vine
Public Hearing
Tuesday, April 11 • 5:30 PM
C-TRAN Board of Directors Meeting,
Vancouver Community Library, Columbia Room
901 “C” St., Vancouver
Served by routes 2, 25, 30, 32, 37, 39, 47, 60, 71, 105 and The Vine
Provide Feedback: If you are unable to attend an open house but would like to provide feedback, you can do so in the following ways:
Website: Contact Us/Comments and Suggestions.
Email: [email protected]
Mail: PO Box 2529, Vancouver, WA 98668, Attention: Community Outreach