Public meeting
• Who: C-Tran Board of Directors.
• What: Meeting that will include a public hearing on a proposed fare increase.
■ When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
■ Where: Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St.
■ Information: http://c-tran.com/about-c-tran; click “C-Tran Board.”
C-Tran is considering raising bus fares for the eighth consecutive year, boosting the cost of some rides by a nickel.
The change would increase the single-ride adult fare in Clark County to $1.80. The honored/youth fare, available to seniors, disabled riders, teens and others, would jump from 85 cents to 90 cents for rides in the county.
The All-Zone fares, which cover trips to Portland, would remain unchanged at $2.50 and $1.25, respectively.
The fare increase would also bump the cost of C-Tran’s premium Express service. Some monthly passes would also go up.
Public meeting
• Who: C-Tran Board of Directors.
• What: Meeting that will include a public hearing on a proposed fare increase.
? When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
? Where: Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St.
? Information: <a href="http://c-tran.com/about-c-tran;">http://c-tran.com/about-c-tran;</a> click "C-Tran Board."
The C-Tran Board of Directors will consider the latest fare increase during its monthly meeting on Tuesday. Board members will also hear testimony during a public hearing on the subject. If approved, the changes would take effect Sept. 1.
The proposal follows C-Tran’s recent strategy of using regular but gradual fare increases to help cover costs but lessen the sudden impact to riders. The transit agency has increased fares every year since 2008, while acknowledging that even small changes have an impact on ridership.
In the past, larger fare hikes implemented sporadically were more harmful and generated more push-back, said C-Tran Director of Operations Jim Quintana. In recent years, the public response has been relatively small, he said.
“There’s an expectation that it’s coming, and there’s also an expectation that it’s going to be minimal, very moderate,” Quintana said.
Riders may get a break next year. C-Tran’s current two-year budget assumes a fare increase in 2015, but not 2016.
That means this year would likely be the final fare increase before C-Tran implements a new electronic fare system in late 2016 or early 2017, Quintana said. The upgrade will allow riders to pay at the door with prepaid transit cards, mobile devices and other means besides just cash. The change is part of the reason C-Tran decided not to raise fares next year, Quintana said.
“We thought that’s plenty for us to handle, as well as us asking our customers to make a transition,” he said.
C-Tran has also proposed a special discounted day pass for seniors and youth that would cost $2.50 — something the agency doesn’t currently offer. Leaders developed the pass at the suggestion of a citizen who first floated the idea to the C-Tran board last fall.
If approved, the new honored/youth all-day pass would be available starting June 1, according to C-Tran.
Eric Florip: 360-735-4541; twitter.com/ericflorip; eric.florip@columbian.com
