San Jose Mercury News series on the Bay area's regional transportation crisis

To emphasize the point that the Washington region's problems with how to address transit and transportation planning, operations, and funding aren't unique, check out this week's series of articles in the San Jose Mercury-News.

The two opening paragraphs of the fifth story ("What it will take to fix Bay Area transit crisis") sound as if they were written about the DC region:

For Bay Area transit agencies to emerge stronger from their plight, extensive changes will be required, most likely including new taxes and a shift in the way commuters travel and leaders plan cities.

Experts, politicians, commuters and others interviewed for this series offered many ideas that could spur ridership and help public transit providers crawl out of budget holes. But there is doubt that the region can muster the political will to make the solutions happen.

Special Section
Running on Empty:Bay Area Transportation in Trouble (note that the on page links within the articles don't always point to the right article, but to another equally interesting series on health inequities: Shortened Lives:Where you live matters):

Articles
DAY 1 - Caution: Crisis ahead
From BART to Caltrain to the Valley Transportation Authority, every Bay Area transit agency has hiked fares and reduced train and bus service to plug deep budget holes. But the changes have produced fewer riders and even less revenue '” leading some to worry that the transit system has entered a death spiral.

Commuters are leaving mass transit for their cars, and they have their reasons
The recession has changed the way commuters think. Gas prices are down and transit fares are up; freeway traffic is looser, while transit service is less frequent.

Day 2 - Public transit cuts make economic recovery difficult
As the region attempts to push toward economic recovery in 2010, transit agencies expect to be moving in the opposite direction, stuck offering service levels and fares established during the economic downturn '” or worse.

Day 3 - Biggest loser in Bay Area transit debacle may be the environment
Efforts to combat climate change fail as more commuters opt to drive rather than take public transit.

Day 4 - Those without cars hit hardest by Bay Area transit crisis
Low-income people often commute at off-peak hours, when rides are scarce.

Day 5 - What it will take to fix Bay Area transit crisis

Roadshow: The cost of taking transit vs. driving
Transit riders say they save hundreds of dollars a month when they leave the car at home.