The Vine system will use 10 new, 60-foot buses, which will nearly double the passenger capacity of current bus routes. In addition, the buses will be served by new stations designed to make boarding quicker and easier, especially for the elderly and those with disabilities.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $38.5 million in federal funding toward a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system for the Vancouver, Wash.-based C-Tran. The new BRT system, called the Vine, will offer faster, more convenient service for thousands of transit riders on the heavily-traveled 4th Plain Boulevard and Fort Vancouver Way corridors.
“Bus rapid transit is a proven and effective way to relieve congestion, improve service, and stimulate economic growth, especially in fast-growing communities like Clark County,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Through common-sense solutions like the Rapid Growth Area Transit Program, included in our GROW AMERICA proposal, reliable, long-term funding would be provided for BRT and other essential transportation projects around the country.”
The Vine system will use 10 new, 60-foot buses, which will nearly double the passenger capacity of current bus routes. In addition, the buses will be served by new stations designed to make boarding quicker and easier, especially for the elderly and those with disabilities. Along with faster and simpler boarding, other enhancements such as signal priority technology will result in significant time savings on the Vine’s route compared to current bus service.
“We are proud to support the Vine, which will bring efficient, affordable rapid transit to Clark County,” said FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan. “This project will encourage growth and development in downtown Vancouver, as well as transform the way people get to major employment and education centers like Clark College and the Veterans’ Administration Hospital.”
With the opening of the Vine, bus ridership in the corridor is expected to increase to 5,800 average weekday trips. The rapid bus will run every 10 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes during off-peak times. Downtown Vine stations will also connect to a cross-river shuttle, linking to Portland, Ore.’s MAX light rail system.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is contributing approximately $42.5 million in federal funding for the project, including $10.7 million in Small Starts funding, $27.8 million in Bus and Bus Facilities funding, and $4,000,000 in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding. The total cost of the project is $53,120,000, the remainder of which is covered by the State of Washington, C-Tran and the City of Vancouver.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.
