If you want expensive urban transit, don't complain on an urbanist forum or hassle planners at the Met Council, lobby Congress. They're the only ones who can really fund and make possible what people here want. This is what we get with the funding sources we have.
I'm not sure I agree with this.
Los Angeles County has raised taxes on itself 3 times in referenda (Proposition A in 1980, Proposition C in 1990, and Measure R in 2008), thereby raising tens of billions of dollars for transportation. The result? Since 1990, LA has built six urban rail lines, is currently building another, extending 3 more, and digging a second downtown subway tunnel. A further 1/2 cent tax increase may be on the ballot in 2016. And these things have to pass with a 2/3 majority! Some congressional appropriations have been committed to these projects, but the bulk of the financing has been locally generated.
I strongly agree with the Strong Towns premise that severing the link between payer and user distorts outcomes. Arguably, the LA sales tax increases have done this. At the same time, the LA experience really goes to show how the "feds have our hands tied, process, process, process" argument is a bit of a cop out.