The creation of a countywide public transportation system was discussed by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners in a Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday.

Commissioner Jim Curran, who represents part of Bertrand and Niles townships, said the discussion centered on how to structure the entity that would run the countywide system.

“The main question was: What vehicle do we use to create it?” Curran said. “I am in favor of the concept, but I want to know more about how it can be structured because I, personally, want to make sure the south county and the Niles area is adequately represented.”

No action was taken, but Curran said the board asked its corporate council to explore various options for creating an authority.

“He is going to try to get it to us within two meetings,” Curran said.

In 2009, Berrien County began looking at ways to improve its public transportation systems.

There are currently four different public transit systems in the county: Niles Dial-A-Ride, Buchanan Dial-A-Ride, Twin Cities Area Transportation and Berrien Bus. It is the only county in the state with four separate systems.

Supporters of combining the four systems into one countywide system say it would reduce operation costs, improve efficiency, reduce the cost of fares and close gaps in coverage.

Niles city officials have expressed concern that Niles could get shortchanged if a countywide system was created. They’ve asked for measures that would prevent that from happening, such as adequate representation on the authority that would oversee the countywide transportation system.