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C-VAN Application

C-VAN Service is an origin to destination, shared ride service that provides service within specified boundaries in Clark County, WA. The existence of a disability does not, by itself, qualify a person for C-VAN service. C-VAN eligibility is a determination of whether an individual can independently use fixed route transit and is solely based on an individual’s functional ability to use the regular bus. If you are found to be capable of using fixed-route bus service, you will not be eligible for C-VAN transportation. A fully completed application is necessary to determine eligibility for C-VAN, C-TRAN’s ADA paratransit service.

Release of Information

All applicants must sign the Authorization for the Release of Information included in this document. This allows C-TRAN to contact your healthcare provider for additional information.

In-person assessment

You may be asked to complete an assessment of your functional abilities. The assessment is designed to determine whether you have the ability to use the fixed­ route bus service.

The assessment may include, but is not limited to, functional questions, a walk outside that includes negotiating different terrain, and skills tests related to balance, strength, coordination, and cognitive abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disability alone does not determine paratransit eligibility; the decision is based on the applicant’s functional ability to use the fixed route bus and is not a medical decision. Transit agencies, with input from the communities they serve, devise the specifics of their individual eligibility processes. The DOT ADA regulations in Section 37.125 set only broad requirements that all agencies must incorporate, such as written notification of eligibility decisions and an opportunity for an appeal.

The C-VAN eligibility process requires a pre application and full application with medical release form completed for professional verification. C-VAN can also require a phone interview and in-person functional assessment of transit abilities.

No, paratransit is for people with disabilities who cannot use the fixed route bus service. Paratransit must provide service that is comparable to the service provided to people who use the fixed route system.

No, paratransit is full price for all passengers. However, there are agencies in Clark County that can help you pay your fare. Please call C-VAN customer service at (360) 695-8918 for more information.

Yes, transit entities are required to permit one person to accompany the paratransit eligible individual. Additional persons accompanying the eligible individual are to be served on a space-available basis to prevent displacement of other ADA paratransit eligible individuals.

Paratransit must be available in the same service areas and during the same hours of operation as the rest of the transit system. C-VAN offers service within the Vancouver urban growth boundary as defined in 2005, within 3/4 mile of the Fixed Route in the cities of Battle Ground, Camas, and Washougal. C VAN only provides service within this service area. Please contact our Customer Service Office to determine if your origin and destination fall within our service area.

C-VAN books rides one to two days in advance. Paratransit must be provided to all eligible riders if it is requested one day in advance by the end of booking at 5 p.m. The ride must come within one hour of the requested time. (For example, if you request a pick-up at 8 a.m., the paratransit service must arrive no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 9 a.m.)

Eligibility Determination

C-TRAN does not base the determination of eligibility on symptoms, type of disability, use of a mobility aid, age, income, ability to drive, or access to a private automobile. We do consider an applicant’s functional ability, and whether an applicant is unable to travel on C-TRAN’s fixed­ route service, all or some of the time, due to the applicant’s disability, and the applicant’s effort and risk during travel on fixed-route. To evaluate your request for service, C-TRAN may contact your physician or other provider for verification, and you may be asked to participate in a functional assessment to complete your application. The functional assessment will help us determine your ability to take public transportation.

Qualified Professionals

C-TRAN recognizes that many professionals work with clients that are disabled; the list below, and on the Authorization to Release Medical Information, is not meant to exclude those professionals. The licensed healthcare professional is a person who is licensed in the States of Washington or Oregon or through a public agency such as the WA State Department of Health.

  • Physician or Psychiatrist (MD, DO, or PA)
  • Physical Therapist
  • Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW or LICSW)
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychologist
  • Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
  • Mental Health Clinician III or IV
  • Ophthalmologist or Optometrist
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