TriMetiquette reader Ambassador Jules writes:
“I have a friend who will soon be working at the VA hospital in Vancouver, WA and wants to use public Transportation. I’ve also had this same question when wanting to visit family up there.
How do you get from downtown Portland to the ‘Couve? I’ve seen the C-Tran buses. Do they take TriMet passes? Where do you find the schedule and route info?”
Good questions! First of all (for anyone who doesn’t know), C-TRAN is Vancouver’s public transportation system. They have three Transit Centers:
- Fisher’s Landing Transit Center (SE 164th Avenue and SE Cascade Park Drive)
- 99th Street Transit Center at Stockford Village (Hazel Dell)
- Vancouver Mall Transit Center (Van Mall Drive, north parking lot next to Mervyn’s)
Along with five additional park & ride locations, which you can see on the C-TRAN Commuter Map.
The C-TRAN fare prices are as follows:
Yes, you CAN use TriMet fare to pay for C-TRAN fare. The way it works is like this:
- If you have a 2-zone TriMet fare pass, you pay $0.50 & use that ticket for a C-TRAN All-Zone pass.
- If you have an all-zone TriMet fare pass, you do not need to pay anything additional for a C-TRAN All-Zone pass
You are also able to do this the other way around, meaning: you can use your C-TRAN fare pass to ride TriMet. Here’s the breakdown:
- If you have an Adult C (1-Zone Adult) pass, you pay $.0.50 & use that ticket for a 2-zone TriMet ticket
- If you have an Adult C (1-Zone Adult) pass, you pay $0.80 & use that ticket for an all-zone TriMet ticket
- If you have a C-Zone Day Pass, you pay $1.25 & use that ticket for an all-day TriMet ticket
Now, to specifically address your question: yes, there are C-TRAN buses that run from downtown to near the Southwest Washington Medical Center. The routes your friend would like to specifically use in order to go to that Vancouver hospital would be either the #37 - Highway 99 & Mill Plain bus line or the #39 - Clark College / Medical Center bus line. The best way to get to the Southwest Washington Medical Center from downtown Portland would be:
- Take the #164 - Fisher’s Landing Express to the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center
- Board the #37 - Highway 99 & Mill Plain bus line, which takes you to your stop
Or, you could also go this way:
- Take the #105 - I-5 Express bus to downtown Vancouver
- Board the #39 - Clark College / Medical Center bus line to your stop
Hope that answers your question & gives you a nice little primer on how C-TRAN works.
7 comments ↓
Good work C-Block! You went the extra mile, and I appreciate it…
The VA also runs its own busses from the Vancouver to Portland campuses that are free.
“Yes, you CAN use TriMet fare to pay for C-TRAN fare. The way it works is like this:”
Yes, BUT…
“Note: C-TRAN only accepts Express fares on its Express service to Portland.”
Also,
“C-TRAN’s Express Service/Fares
C-TRAN has several routes that provide express non-stop service to downtown Portland, Marquam Hill and the Lloyd District. These buses require a special Express fare to ride. Please see fare grid for pricing information.”
On the Express routes, your TriMet pass is **NO GOOD**. You will be required to pay the full C-Tran Express fare. Once you’re in Vancouver, your TriMet pass will be valid (but you’ll also have a transfer from the express fare).
The only way you can connect between Portland and Vancouver with your TriMet pass without paying an Express Fare is to take the Yellow Line to Delta Park/Vanport, then board C-Tran 41, 44 or 47 to Vancouver, then transfer to 37 or 39.
You can also use TriMet line 6 and transfer at Jantzen Beach to the same three busses which make several local stops on the island.
GOOD POINT! Thanks for bringing that up, Erik… failed to connect the dots there
you may also catch the #4 at delta park. The #65 from the parkrose park and ride in Portland is not an express route.
The original question was how to get to the “VA Hospital” in Vancouver. This is not the SW Washington Medical Center, and they are nowhere near close to each other.
By coincidence, one of the suggested routes could be used to go to the VA Hospital in Vancouver. The #39 stops at both the VA and at SWWMC.
As Tre suggests, though, a perhaps better route would be to take the MAX Yellow Line to Delta park, and catch the #4 from there to the VA.
If you don’t like MAX, take the #105 to Evergreen and Broadway in Vancouver and transfer to the #4 which goes past the VA.
How do I get from Westfield Shopping Center in Vancouver, Wa o the Convention Center in Portland, Ore
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