The Valley Transportation Authority board, which is responsible for regional transportation in Santa Clara County, is a collection of elected officials picked by a very odd formula. A few city council members from here, a few from there, a big segment from San Jose, and, yes, of course two county supervisors. Throw in a short-term rotation cycle and what you have is more of a shell game than a body that represents voters. No other surrounding transportation agency has such a strange approach.

This wouldn't be such a concern if accountability weren't needed. However, according to VTA's own numbers, its service ranks last among surrounding agencies in costs per operating hour and fare-box recovery ratio.

The cost per rider is so great that if efficiencies were raised to the same level of the other agencies, the VTA could probably give all bus riders free passes on all rides and still come out ahead! Of course, this could only happen if the VTA brought its own costs in line with those of other, similar transportation agencies in California. Then again, we could skip this "crazy" idea and invest the difference in a transportation network that is cost-efficient and a joy to use.

The original law that created the agency was flawed in providing no real accountability and policy oversight to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent wisely. To prove this, let's say you are now concerned and would like to change the VTA. Great, just use the ballot box and vote the rascals out of office. That is what we are supposed to be able to do, right?

The reality is that even if you knew who the board members were, you're probably not in the particular district to be able to vote any of them out. Remember, they rotate in and out with very short terms. However, if your city council member happens to be on the board at this time, I'm sure he or she hasn't been there long enough to have made any decisions you are upset about. If the member is making bad calls now, he or she will be off the board before you get a chance to vote. The shell game continues.

Add to this the fact that voters normally do not make the connection between their local city council members and regional transit problems. Therefore, no one is held accountable for VTA's performance.

Direct elections of VTA board members would go a long way in fixing this problem. Or, failing that, the county Board of Supervisors can take over that responsibility. Of course, that means we can hold them accountable. Any bets?

Norman Kline is a member of the Saratoga City Council, a Joint Powers Authority Library board member, a VTA PAC board alternate and a former member of the Santa Clara Planning Commission.