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Commission gives conditional support to countywide transit plan to stabilize Takata operations
Summary
Facing an FTA funding cutoff for Takata (aka Dollarhide), the commission voted to support a county-level funding arrangement that would route federal and MDOT funds through Berrien County and contract operations to Via; commissioners asked for oversight guarantees and details on costs and representation.
The Benton Harbor commission voted to give conditional support to a regional plan to stabilize Takata (also referred to as Dollarhide) after federal funding for current operations was threatened.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner and other officials described a transition in which the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration would send funds to Berrien County, which would then distribute them to Takata (with operations contracted to Via) and establish a Berrien County regional authority as the fiduciary. Officials said the county authority would help secure roughly $1.8 million over three years to support operations, modernize fleets and cut long rider wait times.
Several commissioners raised concerns about transparency, the city’s financial exposure and how representation on the regional board would be apportioned; the mayor pro tem said Benton Harbor would have three representatives on the regional board and would retain a local Takata board appointed by the commission. Commissioners also discussed the potential that other cities would be asked to contribute after a transition period.
Outcome: The commission voted to support the countywide regional transportation approach as presented, while requesting continued oversight and clarity on financial impacts and governance.
