On Monday, Aug. 18, the Battle Ground City Council heard how a new on-demand transit option will soon roll into the city and what the future of regional service could look like in 2045.
Presenting to the council was C-Tran's Director of Planning and Service Delivery, Taylor Eidt, who explained the details of The Current, a zone-based ride service launching in Battle Ground on Sept. 14.
Unlike fixed bus routes, The Current functions similarly to Uber or Lyft, allowing riders to book curb-to-curb trips anywhere within city limits.
"Within the new [service] zone, people will be able to use the current to go to any two points or between any two points within the city of Battle Ground," Eidt said.
The service will run seven days a week—5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends—using 10-passenger vans equipped with bike racks and ADA-accessible lifts.
Bookings can be made through a mobile app, online or by phone. Wait times average about 20 minutes for same-day trips, with the option to schedule up to two days ahead.
"You type in where you are, or it just knows because it has your location and then you put in where you want to go, and it will find the nearest available or scheduled trip time in order to take you there," Eidt said.
Several council members expressed enthusiasm, particularly about the service's benefits to seniors.
"We have so many in [Battle Ground] Village. There are no sidewalks. There's nowhere to walk, they're on an island by themselves with no grocery store … So, I could really see this as a benefit for them to get to the grocery store, doctor's appointments, enjoy our city rather than just be stuck on that island," Councilmember Victoria Ferrer said.
"It's awesome to see that it's actually happening," Councilmember Cherish DesRochers said. "I'm really excited to … [for] kids just wanting to go to the skate park, go to their friend's house, whatever. I'm just really happy that we're gonna be able to get around a little bit easier now."
Alongside the launch, C-Tran will also add evening and weekend trips to Route 7, the main line connecting Battle Ground with Vancouver.
Looking further ahead, Eidt outlined C-Tran 2045, the agency's long-range plan to guide transit priorities for the next 20 years.
"C-Tran 2045 is our long-range transit plan, is the guiding document for C-Tran over the next 20 years," Eidt said.
The plan identifies expanded service frequency on Route 7, new east-west connections, and the possibility of restoring direct service between Battle Ground and the I-5 corridor.
"Two of those opportunities that we've identified here include a connection between Battle Ground and Downtown Ridgefield along 502 and Pioneer Street … as well as returning a service connection between Battle Ground and Salmon Creek and the I-5 corridor," Eidt said.
Other improvements under consideration include community transit hubs in cities like Battle Ground, Ridgefield and the Camas/Washougal area to allow for easier transfers and operational flexibility.
"One of our real constraints is that all of our routes have to start or end at a transit center because that's where our operators are and vehicles are able to lay over," Eidt said. "And that puts a big constraint on how we're able to send service farther into the county and make those improvements and connections elsewhere."
Readers can learn more about C-Tran's long-term planning at c-tran.com/c-tran2045.
