C-Tran has proposed raising fares for the seventh consecutive year, bumping the cost of some single rides by a nickel.
The cost of a single adult C-Zone fare, covering trips within Clark County, would jump to $1.75. The All-Zone fare, covering trips to Portland, would remain unchanged at $2.50. Discounted fares for youths and seniors also would stay the same.
Single-ride fares for C-Tran’s Express service to Portland would increase from $3.60 to $3.75. The cost of a monthly C-Zone pass would increase from $60 to $61. A monthly Express pass would cost $122, up from $119.
The proposed increases follow C-Tran’s recent policy of using regular but gradual fare hikes to help cover costs but minimize the sudden impact to riders. That’s been the agency’s strategy for nearly a decade, but several board members on Tuesday said they’re uneasy with the notion of making annual fare hikes virtually automatic regardless of economic or financial conditions. Clark County Commissioner Tom Mielke noted many of C-Tran’s riders rely on a fixed income.
“Any little amount that you refer to is a big amount to them,” Mielke said.
The latest increase is expected to raise an additional $63,000 in revenue annually, according to a report given to C-Tran board members. A 2014 fare increase is already assumed in the agency’s adopted budget.
“I feel that we have plenty of money in the bank, and I don’t think we need $63,000 more,” said Washougal City Councilor Connie Jo Freeman.
C-Tran Executive Director Jeff Hamm said the relatively small recommended increase is due to the agency being on better financial footing than it was when the budget was approved. In January, the board approved a change to its two-year budget that boosted its bottom line by nearly $1 million.
C-Tran operates with a total budget of about $50 million per year.
C-Tran plans to hold at least three meetings on the proposed fare increase in April. The first meeting is 5:30 p.m. April 17 at Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, 3510 S.E. 164th Ave. in Vancouver. Two others are April 24 and 29.
The C-Tran board could be asked to approve the changes as soon as May. If adopted, the new fares would take effect Sept. 1.
The C-Tran Board of Directors also named Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt its new chair.
Leavitt will take the gavel from Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart, who attended his last C-Tran meeting as a board member Tuesday. Stuart will resign as county commissioner to become Ridgefield’s city manager next month.
Leavitt had served as vice chair, so moving him to the chair’s seat meant picking a new vice chair as well. The board chose La Center Mayor Jim Irish for that role.
In both cases, Clark County Commissioner David Madore had been nominated, but lost out to Leavitt and Irish on a 5-4 vote each time.
