In Thursday’s Niles Daily Star, Niles resident Laura Hollister shared her story of frustration with Berrien County’s transportation system.

Though all of us at the paper have personal vehicles to get around, we have to agree with some of her frustrations. For years, we have heard complaints about confusing routes, limited hours and the lengthy amount of required notice for rides within the city. In short, our transport system currently is complicated and difficult to use, which can disproportionately affect those with disabilities or those who cannot afford a vehicle of their own.

Currently, there are proposed solutions on the table. Connect Berrien has proposed a consolidation plan that includes offering seven-day service in higher density areas, like Niles, on-demand service for shorter trips and fixed-service routes. The proposal includes coverage of the entire county and is estimated to cost $2 million more per year than the current transportation plan.

Yes, the proposed plan may be costly, but adequate public transportation is vital to the growth of a community. Niles is growing, and a system that has limited hours and needs 24-hours’ notice will not sustain the city for much longer. Outside of downtown, our city is not walkable — we need adequate public transportation in Niles to make it an attractive place to live and work.

The Disability Network Southwest Michigan and the Self-Advocates of Michigan Board will host a Berrien County Community Forum on Transportation at 1 p.m. Friday, April 12 at the Disability Network office, 2900 Lakeview Avenue, St. Joseph. The forum will include a chance for community members to discuss transportation issues with leaders of local transit operations.

If you need an accommodation to participate in the Berrien County Community Forum on Transportation, contact Cindy Gray at (269) 985-0111.

We would encourage anyone with a vested interest in the future of public transportation in Berrien County to attend and make their voices heard — that is if you can get there.

Opinions expressed are those of general manager Ambrosia Neldon, managing editor Sarah Culton, sports editor Scott Novak and reporter Adam Droscha.