I believe BART gauge is actually Indian broad gauge, not Russian gauge. It has been speculated for centuries that a wider gauge is technologically superior - the Erie RR was initially built to 6' gauge but the idea was quickly abandoned. But remember the wider the gauge the wider the tunnels have to be, ergo more costly. That is why you had 3 foot gauge in Colorado.

For those who weren't alive in the forties and fifties it is hard to imagine how ugly the mood was in transit in those days. The highway lobby had mounted a long term campaign of denigration and defamation against electric railways. It was like a transit McCarthyism. If you favored streetcars over diesel buses you were practically a commie. This is where the Reaganite love of freeways comes from.

IMHO corporate corruption(SP) is the real reason for BART's broad gauge. Think Jesse Unruh.

I prefer overhead wires - I think it is what makes electric railroads impressive and exciting. You might call it the Godzilla effect or the sparks effect. I consider catenary safer than third rail but then it doesn't take much to rip down a whole lot of wire. Clearly improved pantograph and catenary designs are indicated. Nevertheless you don't see any third rail hsr's.