I have an idea: how about we give them a big chunk of money? :)<p>Seriously, this point doesn't work.  No state is going to turn down a transit project, certainly not because of the operating costs (most of which <i>are</i> funded in these kinds of bills -- it's not a one-time check).  And in any case, in most urban environments transit is required to pay its own operating costs.  Where do you think that bus fare goes anyway?