The decline of BART and Metro is a good metaphor for the decline of American government competence. The 1970s saw a wave of state of the art automated train systems built in SF, DC, and ATL. When we moved to DC in 1989 the Metro offered a smooth, comfortable, computer-controlled ride.
Today those systems are in shambles. The automatic train control infrastructure in the DC metro has deteriorated so much that it was turned off in 2009. Today a DC Metro ride is uncivilized, like the ancient system in NYC, with some poorly trained driver jerking you to a stop at each platform. Not only that, but the 6 minute headways built into the original system were relaxed to 8 minutes, and even that is not achieved in practice.
This is quite the exaggeration. I use the DC metro multiple times a week (but no longer daily). I also prefer to use public transit while traveling. The ride is similar to elsewhere in the US and about 50% of abroad systems.
Today those systems are in shambles. The automatic train control infrastructure in the DC metro has deteriorated so much that it was turned off in 2009. Today a DC Metro ride is uncivilized, like the ancient system in NYC, with some poorly trained driver jerking you to a stop at each platform. Not only that, but the 6 minute headways built into the original system were relaxed to 8 minutes, and even that is not achieved in practice.