throughout the 20th century, seattle planners and voters rejected various proposals for rapid transit systems. the forward thrust program of the late 1960s produced two ballot measures for a rapid transit system that were unable to pass with the state-required supermajority for bonds. federal funding that was allocated to the project was instead sent to atlanta, georgia, forming the metropolitan atlanta rapid transit authority. the municipality of metropolitan seattle (metro), the regional water quality agency, took over bus operations in king county and the city of seattle on january 1, 1973, after approval from voters in response to the failure of forward thrust.