WMATA only ran DC and intra-jurisdiction routes

[mrpete]

DC and LA are unique in the number of TA's that operate within each others territories to the extent that they do. LA has at least 14 TA's/municipal bus lines (MBL'S) in operation while DC has at least 15. Add to that mix the commuter rail operations of MARC and VRE for DC and Metrolink for LA.

Mix in different unions and union contracts; private operators; local government, state government, multi-jurisdictional or independent agency ownership and governance; multiple funding sources; plus conflicting community and political "priorities"and,..... well, you get the picture. It's a wonder it works as well as it does day in, day out.

WMATA's initial priority, to the detriment of the bus system, was laying tracks. In part, this led Montgomery to go off the reservation with Ride On in the late '70's because it was felt that WMATA was ignoring their need for more extensive bus service not only to feed the Red Line but for local services within the county. Fairfax eventually followed suit with the Connector, concerned that  it was paying too much for WMATA's bus service and that Fairfax could do more for less. 

The closest thing I can find for anything approaching the possibility of full integration of multiple TA's is the Toronto region which rivals DC and LA for the number of operations. A few years ago a "super-regional" agency called Metrolinx was created to oversee all transit operations from Hamilton, near the US border to Clarington, about 40 miles east of Toronto. Twenty five jurisdictions in all. Earlier this year in May GO Transit was merged into Metrolinx whose mission is to conduct planning, provide funding, manage major capital projects and to coordinate the services of the Toronto-Hamilton region TA's, while the TA's maintain their autonomy for local operations.

Can this happen in the DC/BAL region? I doubt it. But it could happen.