Berrien County’s transit committee is set to meet later this month to discuss how a regional transportation system might be created after the Michigan Department of Transportation indicated it wants a replacement to be found for the Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority, or TCATA.
We’ve previously reported partly due to high operating costs, MDOT has said it wants Berrien County to take the lead in finding a replacement for the agency that runs Dial a Ride. Speaking Thursday, Berrien County Board of Commissioners Chair Mac Elliott said for that to happen, leaders from Benton Harbor and TCATA will be needed at the table.
“If TCATA and the city don’t show up, I would not meet because this is as much for their benefit, if not more so than for any other local entities benefit,” Elliott said. “And if they’re not willing to participate in this endeavor, cancel the meeting.”
County Administrator Brian Dissette told Elliott he’s been working to schedule a meeting with TCATA.
“The roadmap is there,” Dissette said. “It is now just, is there a sincere commitment from community members to make this happen? And from the county’s perspective, we’ve already started, but to your point, sir, if the locals don’t want to participate, then understood.”
Dissette said a letter from MDOT has made it clear funding directly for TCATA is set to be halted in about a year. Therefore, if anything’s going to be done, there’s not exactly unlimited time.
The county transit committee, BCAT, is set to meet October 23. Between now and then, Dissette said he’s working to coordinate both MDOT and TCATA.
