Youth riders can obtain a free pass at any C-TRAN Customer Service location, including the Vancouver Mall Transit Center

The C-TRAN Board of Directors has approved an expansion of the Youth Opportunity Pass program that will provide free access to transit to all riders 18 and under. The newly expanded free fares for youth riders will take effect on Oct. 1.

Youth riders can obtain a free pass at any C-TRAN Customer Service location, including the Vancouver Mall Transit Center. Local students can also still acquire transit passes through their schools if they’re part of the existing Youth Opportunity Pass program.

C-TRAN’s expansion of free fares for youth riders is part of the agency’s participation in Move Ahead Washington, a state program approved by the Washington Legislature earlier this year. To participate in the program and qualify for grant funding for public transit, agencies must provide free access to transit to any riders 18 years old and younger on all modes of transit service provided by the agency.

C-TRAN’s original Youth Opportunity Pass launched as a pilot program in 2015, offering free transit access to middle school and high school students in participating school districts. It has since expanded to a total of six districts and other partners in Clark County. Agreements between C-TRAN and those school districts will remain in place, meaning students can still obtain transit passes through their schools.

Under the latest expansion, all youth riders now have free access on all modes of transit operating in C-TRAN’s service area. That includes fixed-route bus service, C-VAN paratransit service (for eligible passengers), The Current on-demand service and C-TRAN’s Vanpool service.

C-TRAN is the regional public transportation provider for Clark County. It offers Local bus service within its Clark County service area, plus Regional and Express bus service to Portland. C-TRAN also provides on-demand service with The Current, operating in Camas/Washougal, Ridgefield/La Center, WSU Vancouver/Salmon Creek, Rose Village, and the Port of Vancouver. For more information on C-TRAN visit C-TRAN’s website at www.c-tran.com, or call Customer Service at (360) 695-0123.