C-TRAN

What C-TRAN does

C-TRAN, formally the Clark County Transportation District, is a public transit agency headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, serving Clark County with multimodal bus and paratransit services. Founded in 1981 and operating from two administrative sites in Vancouver, the agency runs 30+ fixed bus routes, two Bus Rapid Transit corridors (The Vine on Mill Plain/Red Line and The Vine on Fourth Plain/Green Line), express commuter service to downtown Portland and Marquam Hill/OHSU, the on-demand microtransit service The Current across multiple zones (including a 2025 launch in Battle Ground), and the ADA-compliant C-VAN paratransit service. Technology infrastructure centers on NextRide real-time stop identification, GTFS static and real-time data feeds for developer and third-party use, the Transit mobile app for trip planning and rider alerts, the Spare Labs–powered Current app for on-demand bookings, and the Hop Fastpass regional contactless fare payment system integrated with TriMet.

The business model is a hybrid of farebox revenue and public subsidy typical of U.S. transit authorities. Passenger fares are unit-priced (~$1.50 adult ride on The Current; $0.75 honored fare; day and monthly passes), complemented by free or discounted programs including the Youth Opportunity Pass (free for riders 18 and under) and the Heroes Pass for first responders. The majority of operating and capital funding flows from federal, state, and local government sources; the agency also supports employer-based transit benefit programs. Distribution channels include five transit centers, multiple park-and-ride facilities, hundreds of bus stops, branded BRT stations, mobile apps (Transit, The Current), and phone-based booking.

As a government entity with statutorily defined service territory and exclusive jurisdiction over public transit in Clark County, C-TRAN has no direct private-sector competitors within its service area. Strategic relationships include technology partnerships with Transit and Spare Labs, regional service integration with TriMet in Portland, and academic and community coordination with WSU Vancouver and a Community Advisory Committee. The agency is governed by a publicly appointed Board of Directors under Washington State RCW provisions, with current executive leadership under CEO Shawn M. Donaghy.

Name

C-TRAN

Legal name

C-TRAN (Clark County Transportation District)

Website

https://c-tran.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

C-TRAN is the public transit authority for Clark County, Washington, providing fixed-route bus, Bus Rapid Transit (The Vine), on-demand microtransit (The Current), paratransit (C-VAN), and express service to Portland for county residents, commuters, and seniors or riders with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fare Revenue: C-TRAN generates revenue through passenger fares collected via cash, Hop Fastpass system, and passes. Standard adult fare is $1.50 for The Current on-demand service, with discounted rates for honored riders and free youth passage.
2. Government Transit Funding: As a public transit authority, C-TRAN receives government subsidies and funding from federal, state, and local sources to support operations and capital investments.
3. Special Transit Programs: Revenue from specialized fare programs including day passes, monthly passes, Youth Opportunity Pass (free for youth 18 and under), Heroes Pass for first responders, and employer-based transit benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

C-TRAN provides multi-modal public transit services across Clark County, Washington, operating more than 30 fixed-route bus lines, bus rapid transit (The Vine) on dedicated lanes, on-demand microtransit (The Current) in Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and Salmon Creek, ADA-compliant paratransit (C-VAN), and express commuter service to Portland and Marquam Hill. Riders can plan trips via the Transit app, receive real-time arrival data via NextRide stop IDs, and pay fares using the Hop Fastpass regional electronic fare card or one-way and day passes.

Product overview

C-TRAN is a public transit agency providing multimodal transportation services throughout Clark County, Washington. The portfolio includes fixed-route bus service (30+ routes), The Vine Bus Rapid Transit system with Red and Green lines, The Current on-demand microtransit service (developed with Spare Labs), and C-VAN paratransit service. The ecosystem is connected through the Transit app, GTFS data feeds, and Hop Fastpass fare integration, with The Current seamlessly integrated for multimodal trips combining on-demand and fixed-route options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Vine on Mill Plain (Red Line): Bus rapid transit line on Mill Plain corridor
• The Vine on Fourth Plain (Green Line)
• The Current

Products and services

• The Vine (Bus Rapid Transit - Mill Plain)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TransitcoreTechnology or IntegrationTransit is C-TRAN's official mobile app partner for real-time information and trip planning. The Transit app provides up-to-the-minute arrival times, vehicle location tracking, trip planning, and multimodal integration with TriMet for regional trips. C-TRAN-specific rider alerts are available within the app. Thousands of C-TRAN riders use Transit monthly.
• Spare LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationSpare Labs developed The Current app for C-TRAN's on-demand microtransit service. The partnership enables app-based booking, real-time vehicle tracking, and driver routing for The Current rideshare service operating in 6 zones across Clark County.
• TriMetcoreTechnology or IntegrationTriMet is the regional transit authority serving the Portland metropolitan area. C-TRAN's Transit app integrates TriMet schedules and arrivals for seamless regional trip planning, enabling riders to plan multimodal journeys combining C-TRAN and TriMet services.
• WSU VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington State University Vancouver is a key destination served by C-TRAN routes including Route 19 (Salmon Creek) and The Current WSU Vancouver/Salmon Creek service zone. The partnership provides students and staff with transit access to campus.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ctranvancouver
• Facebookfacebook.com/ctranvancouver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about C-TRAN