Some 20 years ago I attended a 'scoping hearing' in Berkeley where AC Transit and their consultants (minders?) were ostensibly presenting options for improving transit on several major corridors--all ex East Bay Traction routes. The assembled citizens when asked about preferred "mode" were nearly unanimously in favor of rail. Several months and a couple of other hearings later the decision was announced--Bus Rapid Transit. After many years of degrading the project as well as inept implementation of rapid-lite hundreds of millions are being spent to "build" a short segment along E 14th Street (International Boulevbard). The BOD periodically spends time discussing "branding" paint schemes, potential naming rights for "stations"--that is, bus boarding platforms. Meanwhile bus ridership is bleeding.

So, yes, the actual politiocs surrounding public works projects IS relevant.
One evening perhaps a decade back, the AC BOD prez,asked me "Don't you think the East Bay deserves a marquee project?" Pimped out bus service doesn't qualify which is also why I have tuned out on Muni's pathetic Geary project.

Friday was Muni's 106th b'day--to my knowledge no celebratory operations.

You don't have to be a "conspiracy nut" to notice that the projects we do get are grossly over budget yet garbage quality. salesfarce transbay bus station anyone?