LA is a very large city both in terms of population and geography. IMHO buses operating on freeways are already halfway to buwway or BRT and if that long experience has proven only somewhat satisfactory as a public transit system then LA needs something more expensive, ergo rail. For one thing you would think that the LA quasi BRT's would ask for a "papal" dispensation from the Gavinator to try out 3-section articulated buses for the extra capacity. My impression is that no important grades are encountered so they should be up to the service requirements.

In the case of very small Honolulu-Oahu I think BRT should have been seriously considered, better than HART, because surface branches would have been feasible. Of course OC light rail the best option - I wonder what drove them to 3rd rail and driverless. Wages could not be much higher than BART's.