Personal Care Attendant (PCA) on C-VAN
Under the ADA, C-TRAN can require eligible individuals to indicate whether they travel with a PCA as part of the initial eligibility certification process.
A PCA is someone who is assisting the eligible person with a daily life activity that is affected by the person’s disability. A PCA does not always have to be the same person. C-VAN drivers are not PCAs, nor does the ADA require C-TRAN to provide you with one.
One PCA may ride free when traveling with you. They must get on and off the vehicle with you at the same place(s) and times. If you cancel your ride(s), the PCA cannot take the trip, even if they are a current eligible C-VAN customer.
Children on C-VAN
Children may ride C-VAN if accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
The rider is responsible for providing and use of compatible car seats with the safety belts on C-TRAN’s vehicles. Children accompanying the ride must be added to the reservation when the ride is booked. Children will not be added to the reservation on the same day of the ride.
Children six and under may ride free with a fare-paying adult. Children older than six must pay the regular fare.
Companions on C-VAN
One companion can travel with you but must be added when the ride reservation is booked. Additional companions may ride at the discretion of C-TRAN when there is space available on the vehicle. Companions must be added to the reservation when the ride is booked. Companions will not be added to the reservation on the same day of the ride.
Companions must pay the regular adult fare when riding C-VAN service.
Service Animal Policy
Under Department of Transportation (DOT) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at 49 C.F.R. Section 37.3, “service animal” is defined as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.” Service animals can travel outside of a carrier, but must be leashed or harnessed except when performing tasks where tethering interferes with the animal’s ability to perform, remain in the owner’s control and not pose a threat to others, remain in a sitting or laying position, and not block the aisle of the vehicle or occupy a seat. In addition, Washington State’s Law Against Discrimination states that any dog or miniature horse that is undergoing training to become a service animal shall be allowed access to places of public accommodation.
C-TRAN may ask the following questions to ensure compliance with service animal requirements: Is the animal a service animal? What work or task has the animal been trained, or is in training, to perform?
Pet/Comfort/Emotional Support Animal Policy
Comfort/emotional Support animals are allowed on C-TRAN but must be in an enclosed pet carrier that fits on the floor in front of you or on your lap. The carrier may not block the aisle of the vehicle or occupy another seat. Comfort/emotional support animals provide comfort to their owners, but have not been trained to perform a specific duty or task.
Visitor Eligibility
Visitors with disabilities who cannot use the C-TRAN fixed route system are eligible to utilize the C-VAN paratransit service on the same basis as it is provided to local residents. If the visitor has been certified as “ADA paratransit eligible” by another public entity – and presents documentation to that effect – C-VAN will honor the certification and provide up to 21 days of C-VAN service.
If the visitor has no such documentation, C-VAN may require the provision of proof of visitor status (i/e/, proof of residence somewhere else) and, if the individual’s disability is not apparent, proof of the disability (e.g., a letter from a doctor or rehabilitation professional). Once this documentation is presented and is satisfactory, C-VAN will make the service available for up to 21 days on the basis of the individual’s statement that he or she is unable to use the fixed-route transit system.
The ”21 days” of service that shall be provided to visitors with disabilities are to be calculated as any combination of 21 days during any 365-day period beginning with the visitor’s first use of service. For example, a person may visit two days a week. In this case, eligibility would be extended over an eleven-week period of time (2 days per week x 11 weeks = 22 days), within which 21 days of C-VAN service would be provided.
Visitors who require more than 21 days of service within a 365-day period shall be required to apply for C-VAN eligibility through the C-VAN certification process.
Visitors with disabilities shall be provided with the same level of service as certified C-VAN riders and are subject to the same service policy requirements.
If you are visiting Clark County, and you are a person with a disability, you can call the C-VAN ride reservation line at 360-695-8918 and let a customer service representative know that you need Visitor Service. In accordance with the ADA, C-TRAN will process your request for guest service within 24 hours of the verbal request.
Visiting another city?
If you wish to receive service from another paratransit company while visiting that city, please contact C-VAN ride reservation at 360-695-8918. Please provide the customer service representative with a valid fax or email for the transit agency and your ADA paratransit eligibility will be sent for you.
