The problem has 2 aspects: the carrot, and the stick. The carrot is the availability of attractive transit alternatives, that is, rail-based transit. But even with the attractive rail-based transit available, Bubba will not get his fat ass of the car and strat riding the train. Why? Bacause Bubba ain't that stupid and he can do his basic math.
And his basic math looks like that:: - the cost of auto-based transit is almost exclusiveley 'overhead' -- that is, money he must pay even if he drives 0 (zero) miles; the cost of the vehicle, interest, insurance, registration etc.;
-the marginal cost of driving is the cost of gasoline plus tolls;
So the total cots of driving is his overhead plus his marginal.
Now, the total cost of alternative rail-based transit is the overhead cost of his auto (which he has to pay even if he does not drive it) plus the fare, plus the relative inconvenience.
So it is easy to see that Bubba will look at the transit alternative only if the marginal cost of driving (gasoline plus tolls) will substantially exceed the transit fare, for a small difference will not be worth moving his fat ass to the nearest subway station.
Now, to tip that balance in favor of the public transit, one needs a big stick, and whack the car users with tolls and surchargers. One can whack everyone with gasoline surcharges, in which case the rural folks will cry bloody murder (and righfully so), or one can whack suburban fat heads who drive their 4WDs to the cities with the _steep_ increase of tolls and parking fees. In addtion, if the toll booth traffic jams will be inconvenient enough, fatheads will certainly re-consider taking their fat asses to a more effcient transit alternative. This is called planned congestion.
As to the lazy politicians, I do not think that applies to the Bay Area. To my knowledge most politicians (and large employers as well) in the region would love to built an efficient rail system to solve their traffic problems (ulness that changed in the past few years). At fault are suburban fat heads south of Sand Francisco (San Mateo county) who said NO to BART extension to prevent the dark-skinned folks moving to their neighborhoods. Whacking those assholes with tolls is not just sound policy, but a sweet revenege.
regards
WS