Part of the insanity is that hummingbirds are NOT rare. They're plentiful everywhere. But this one genetic variant is rare, and thus holds up untold millions of dollars (billions?), all to preserve a tiny genetic difference. Our great-grandchildren and their great-grandchildren, will all see hummingbirds... but maybe not one with a red belly or yellow eye or third stripe on its back or some other insignificant difference... that is not such a great loss to the environment or our heritage or to our great x 6 grandchildren... and yet we allow that tiny variation to cost us vast fortunes, because of the endless efforts of the emotionally crippled voters.
I'm all for making sure that species survive... but tiny subsets and genetic abnormalities, costing us billions? That has to stop.
As far as monetary losses go, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is a toll bridge, so it ought to be self-sufficient with the MBTA issue aside.