More mouse droppongs -- I presume?


Neither Kopp nor Caltrain were even around back then (1957)

For that matter, neither was the MTC! Nor were there federal transit subsidies of any kind - they didn't come along until Nixon. With no federal funds to dole out, there was need need back then for an MTC - nor any of the fuss that is needed now. The MTC, and other similar regional entities were formed in 1970 - in response to federal law, mostly to dole out federal dollars. California also uses them to administer state funding

"SFBARTD" was set up in 1957 as a special service district within the initial three counties - essencially a municipality under California Law. And as such, it had (within the bounds of California Law) full taxing authority of its own - still does. Property assessment bonds to build BART were voted on and passed by substntially better than two thirds of the vote within the district. It used only its own money (taxes) to build most all of the original system. In those days, it made its won decisions, within the law.

That is, until Nixon. After that, besides its own tax sources, it, like all other municipalities in the kingdom, went to the Federal Trough. The Feds have been thus controlling everything local via MTCs in each region, ever since. With the infusion of all those federal dollars everywhere - very little actual benefit was had. With 10 times the money chasing the same amount of manufacturing capacity, prices quickly rose, resulting in very little benefit.

But now, MTCs, having all that federal and state gold to dole out - now make all the rules, whereas, it was once an elected municiple board that made the decisisions. Don't like it? Then go after the federal involvement that turned over all transit decision making to bureaucrats. BART is as beholden to the MTC as anyone else.