DEAR EDITOR:

As someone who has been involved with transportation in Trumbull County since around 2008, I still don’t have definitive answers to one persistent question:

“Do we need public transportation in Trumbull County or not?”

Some elected officials — and many individuals who already have reliable transportation — believe we do not need it. I disagree. I believe we do need public transportation, and I believe the people of this county should determine what they need and how to fund it in the most efficient and fair way.

I opposed joining WRTA and Mahoning County because of the $7 million price tag. The people of Trumbull County would be paying into a system without having much say in how it operates. That never felt right to me.

Over the course of this debate, I’ve watched many county commissioners come and go. Only a few have shown a true understanding of what long-term solutions might work for our county. In 2011, a transportation board was created. It wasn’t a bad idea, but politics quickly got in the way and disrupted the original vision for a countywide system.

The reality is this:

People who are making decisions — or shaping a vision — must understand what they are deciding on. Transportation is complicated. Without people who genuinely want to learn about it, we cannot expect good, informed, or responsible decisions.

A common pitfall is that people believe what they want to believe. They assume that if they don’t have a need, others must not have it either. Just because you are fed doesn’t mean no one in your community is hungry. The same is true for transportation.

Our county and our communities should be connected through accessible, reliable transportation — and transportation should help connect our communities to one another.

A transportation system designed by the people of Trumbull County, for the people of Trumbull County, simply makes sense. People with knowledge, interest, and no political agenda could provide tremendous support to our elected officials and help guide the county toward a practical solution.

Should we consider forming our own regional transit authority (RTA)?

Should we create a county transportation department?

What do you think?

CARL CLEMENS

Howland