La Center is making strides in expanding public transportation options with a park-and-ride bus stop set to open on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Last week, the city announced in a news release that C-Tran is opening a park-and-ride site at East Birch Avenue and East Sixth Street , just two blocks north of La Center’s downtown.
La Center Community Development and Public Works Director Tracey Coleman told The Reflector that the new bus stop will benefit residents significantly, facilitating travel to neighboring cities and aiding daily commutes.
“It’s the job of public works to bring new amenities to the cities and to be able to work with C-Tran to bring that amenity to the city, it’s better for the community,” Coleman said.
The new park-and-ride is part of Route 48, which includes stops at the 99th Street Transit Center in Vancouver, the Ridgefield Park & Ride and the Cowlitz Way stop at the ilani Casino Resort.
On weekdays, the La Center bus stop’s northbound route will operate eight times from 6:42 a.m. to 8:12 p.m., while the southbound route runs from 6:46 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. On weekends and holidays, buses will run six times between 8:11 a.m. and 6:12 p.m. in both directions.
The park-and-ride will provide 25 parking spaces, including two ADA-accessible spots. Coleman highlighted that its location, just two blocks north of East Fifth Street — the main route into downtown La Center — ensures greater accessibility. Previously utilized for parking and storage, Coleman emphasized that the site will now serve a far more valuable purpose.
“We beautified the lot, created an amenity for the public, and just put it two blocks off the main drag. So it’s easily accessible and it has ample parking for our city at this time,” Coleman said.
The bus stop’s schedule and location were decided after C-Tran received feedback from a community survey conducted in late 2024, which gathered responses from 39 residents over a two-month period. According to Coleman, over half of the respondents indicated they were most likely to ride at 10:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. The survey revealed that 58.33% of respondents cited shopping and errands as their primary reason for riding, while 55.56% indicated leisure and entertainment, such as visiting friends.
The survey also showed that 83.78% of respondents expressed a desire to travel to Vancouver, while 45.95% preferred downtown Ridgefield and 43.24% planned to visit Portland.
Coleman also expects the new stop to attract visitors to La Center’s parks and trails. One prominent feature is the Brezee Creek Trail, a scenic nature trail that connects East 14th Circle to East Fourth Street and Stonecreek Drive.
La Center boasts a variety of community parks, including Holley Park at 1000 E. Fourth St., which features tennis courts, basketball courts, splash pads and baseball fields. Coleman anticipates that the BMX bike track near Holley Park will also draw guests. Additionally, Sternwheeler Park on 100 East Fourth St. includes an amphitheater, hosting live concerts during the summer months.
Furthermore, La Center is currently in the planning phase of a subarea plan, aiming to create a walkable plaza just blocks from the new park-and-ride. An open house is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 at La Center City Hall, 210 East Fourth St.
