Getting from point A to point B is a major issue for many people across Berrien County. In an ongoing attempt to find solutions to that major sticking pint, the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties will host an exploratory forum next month designed to look at what we need, what we have, and what to do about it all.
On Wednesday, February 13th at 11:30am, the Consortium Office for Community Development located at 175 W. Main Street in Benton Harbor will host the forum for discussion on public transportation. The forum is open to the public, and citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions and raise their own concerns. Those planning to attend are also free to bring their own sack lunch, while coffee, tea and water will be provided.
The issue of getting from point A to point B reliably is a big problem locally. Individuals who don’t have affordable and timely transportation on which they can count often have trouble getting to work, school, medical appointments, the grocery store, places to meet with family members and friends, community events, and anywhere else that’s not in a reasonable walking distance. Causes of the lack of access vary — but often include — lack of a bus route to the destination, public transportation operating on schedules that start too late or end too early, and prohibitive fares.
For many citizens in Berrien County, public transportation is not an issue. They don’t need it and don’t want to use it. They may complain about the price of gas, the outrageous cost of car insurance or driving on crummy roads, but, in the end, they fill up, pay their car insurance, program the GPS and drive away doing their best to avoid numerous patches and potholes. They have no idea — nor do they really even think about the problems — regarding needing, wanting, and not having access to reliable transportation.
Fortunately, some community leaders are very much aware of the lack of adequate public transportation in Berrien County and are trying to do something about it. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has been working on transportation issues for a number of years. To that end, they have set up a Steering Committee including representatives of the four major bus companies operating in the area, city leaders, county commissioners, and private and public representatives. In 2018, that Steering Committee, based on studies authorized in 2014 and 2017, began working on final recommendations of service plan options for operations, maintenance, facilities, funding, administration and governance.
On February 13th, members of the public can learn more about those issues and the proposals from the leader of the Steering Committee, Pat Brandstatter, President of Kruger Plastic Products in Bridgman. As a local private business leader, Brandstatter knows the impact that transportation has on the economic development of local communities.
The League presentation on transportation will take place at 11:30am on Wednesday, February 13, at the Consortium Office for Community Development.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the active and informed participation of citizens in government. The League has a long history of sponsoring high quality candidate forums designed to provide information to the voting public. For more, you can visit the Berrien and Cass Counties League website online at lwvbcc.org.
