Interestingly there is an article in todays SF Chronicle about "czars" taking over the American decision making process. Robert Moses' name comes up early in the article as a prime example. The super agencies, like MTC, have become a sort of shadow government which are making the actual nuts-and-bolts decisions.

The BART Taj Mahal line to San Jose may have a future but it shouldn't take top priority. Electrification, grade separation, and extension of Caltrain to the TransBay Terminal should take precedence. I predict this project will be very successful in terms of new ridership, dramatically more successful that the proposed BART extension. I am referring to attracting riders who are not using public transportation now, not a diversion of existing patronage.