The US has generally had very weak regional/metropolitan government structures since the end of the 19th century. For good or ill, both the creation and abolition of the London County Council/Assembly would be unlikely and it's hard to imaging a state attempting something like the Toronto amalgamation.
In 1958 businessmen and politicians in the San Francisco Bay Area attempted to set up the Golden Gate Authority, which would have controlled transportation and planning in the region and likely expanded its reach over time. It was defeated by the cities and counties surrounding the Bay who wanted to retain local control over planning. The Bay Area now has dozens of different regional coordinating districts including ABAG, MTC, BCDC, BART, BAAQMD...
Had the Golden Gate Authority succeeded, would there be more multi-purpose regional governments in the US (currently there are really only two; Metro in Portland OR and the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities MN)? Would urban sprawl be better managed? Would we all live in a New Urbanist utopia of short commutes and vibrant city centers (that last question might not have been completely serious)?
http://www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/keston/institute/documents/LNDDefeatoftheGGA.pdf
In 1958 businessmen and politicians in the San Francisco Bay Area attempted to set up the Golden Gate Authority, which would have controlled transportation and planning in the region and likely expanded its reach over time. It was defeated by the cities and counties surrounding the Bay who wanted to retain local control over planning. The Bay Area now has dozens of different regional coordinating districts including ABAG, MTC, BCDC, BART, BAAQMD...
Had the Golden Gate Authority succeeded, would there be more multi-purpose regional governments in the US (currently there are really only two; Metro in Portland OR and the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities MN)? Would urban sprawl be better managed? Would we all live in a New Urbanist utopia of short commutes and vibrant city centers (that last question might not have been completely serious)?
http://www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/keston/institute/documents/LNDDefeatoftheGGA.pdf