New rideshare platform starts Jan. 10
A new on-demand rideshare platform is coming to Clark County, courtesy of C-TRAN, that will allow for door-to-door service for the cost of a bus ride in five service areas.
The Current, which will begin Mon., Jan. 10, will replace the existing Connector service, which now operates in four service areas: Camas, Ridgefield, La Center, and Vancouver’s Rose Village neighborhood.
With The Current, customers can get a lift to a grocery store or medical facility within each service area.
If a customer wants to get from one service area to another part of Clark County, The Current will take the customer to a nearby transit center.
For example, a passenger from Washougal needing to get to downtown Vancouver can schedule a ride. The Current will pick up the passenger and take the rider to the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center, where the rider then can find a bus to get to the desired destination.
The Current will be available in these five zones:
• WSU Vancouver/Salmon Creek: A new service zone with connections to the university, medical facilities, the Clark County Fairgrounds, iTech Preparatory School, as well as the 99th Street Transit Center and the Salmon Creek Park and Ride.
• Rose Village: Connections within the neighborhood and to select downtown stops for easy transfers.
• Camas/Washougal: An expanded service area to include all of Camas and Washougal with connections to Fisher’s Landing Transit Center for transfer opportunities.
• The Port of Vancouver: A new service zone that includes the industrial area west of the Vancouver rail yard and train station with service to Amtrak and select downtown stops.
• Ridgefield/La Center: Can access connections within both cities and to the Junction Park and Ride, where Route 48 will offer service to the 99th Street Transit Center.
Service for the Port of Vancouver operates weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. All other service areas operate weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Passengers can schedule a ride online through a new mobile app. The passenger can even track the driver’s progress on the app, similar to other rideshare services. Rides can also be scheduled over the phone by calling C-TRAN customer service at 360-695-0123.
The launch of The Current is part of a larger January service change that affects Routes 65, 74, 105, 134, 164, 177, 199 and a new Route 48. More information is available at www.c-tran.com.
The Current does not affect the C-Van system, which provides transportation for the disabled throughout the county.For more information on The Current, including how to download the app and how to schedule a ride, go to: www.ridethecurrent.com
