In Los Angeles it is offically called the "Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority," though like probably most metropolitan areas the thing's just called the MTA. It was created in 1993 when 2 diffrent public transportation agencies merged, the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD), and the Los Angeles County Transport Commission (LACTC). The authority's board of directors includes 5 L.A. County supervisors, the Los Angeles city mayor, and 4 other members representing other cities in the county. It said by some to be the world's largest public works project. This may very well be true. If you live in L.A. you will need a car, in fact L.A. is the only major city in the world without an viable public transportation system!