Less than a year after launching in Battle Ground, C-Tran’s on-demand transit service has seen ridership totals become the the system’s second-busiest zone, reflecting growing demand for flexible public transportation in north Clark County.
The Current, which operates similarly to a rideshare service while remaining part of the public transit network, began serving Battle Ground in September 2025. Since then, ridership has increased more than fivefold.
“One way to describe it that we've used is basically to think of The Current as C-Tran's version of Uber,” said Eric Florip, C-Tran communications manager. “So it's an on-demand service that will take you anywhere point to point within a service zone. In this case, that's the entire city limits of Battle Ground.”
Unlike traditional bus routes, riders can request trips as needed through a mobile app, online platform or by phone. Trips can also be scheduled up to two days in advance.
“So for the user, you can either book a trip on-demand when you need it, or you can reserve a ride up to two days in advance using mobile apps online, or you can reserve a ride by phone through C-Tran customer service,” Florip said. “So it very much functions like a ride share, but it functions within the overall scope of our transit system.”
According to ridership data provided by C-Tran, Battle Ground recorded 109 trips during its first month of service in September 2025. Monthly ridership steadily climbed through the winter before reaching 720 trips in March. Ridership remained near 600 monthly trips in both April and May.
“I think it's been very successful in Battle Ground so far,” Florip said. “It's grown quite a bit, and I think that's a testament to the interest and the support that we've seen in the community.”
The growth has elevated Battle Ground above all other Current service zones except Camas-Washougal, which consistently records more than 3,500 monthly trips.
The Current first launched in January 2022 with five service zones. Battle Ground became the sixth zone when service expanded there in September 2025.
To keep pace with growing demand across the system, C-Tran made operational changes last year.
“When The Current first started, it was one pool of drivers that operated both C-VAN, which is our paratransit service for individuals with disabilities who aren't able to use fixed route, and The Current, it was the same group of drivers that operated both of those systems,” Florip said.
“But as of last year, we actually separated out a separate pool of operators dedicated just to The Current, which has allowed us to expand the number of people available on that service specifically, and also expand the number of available trips.”
Florip added, “As ridership and demand have gone up, we want to make sure we're able to meet that. So that was one of the reasons we made that shift last year.”
The service also offers an affordable alternative to private rideshare options. Adult fares cost $1.50 per trip, matching C-Tran’s local bus fare regardless of trip length or duration. Riders aged 18 and younger ride free, consistent with all local C-Tran services.
Beyond Battle Ground, Florip said C-Tran has expanded transit options throughout North Clark County in recent years, including Route 48 service connecting Ridgefield and now La Center with Vancouver.
“C-Tran has pretty significantly expanded transit service in north Clark County the past few years, besides just The Current,” Florip said.
Future transit improvements are also being considered through C-Tran’s developing 2045 long-range plan. A draft vision map released during public outreach includes potential new routes and expanded service throughout the county.
Florip emphasized that those proposals remain long-term concepts rather than immediate projects.
“Obviously those wouldn't be implemented right away, but it's something that folks have told us they're interested in, and it's going to sort of guide future decisions as we move into the next five, 10, 20 years.”
