Citing a growing frustration with BART, a band of East Bay and Central Valley politicos led by Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty is moving on its own to connect the Bay Area transit system’s tracks to the railroad that runs into the Central Valley — and the group has just landed $2.2 million to get it rolling.

Whether BART wants to or not.

The idea is to push BART to Livermore, then hook it up to the ACE line that now runs trains between San Jose and Stockton.

Haggerty says it’s a great idea that BART tried to strangle in its crib with “10 years and $10 million in environmental studies” that came to nothing.

“It’s just ridiculous,” Haggerty said.

Tom Radulovich, president of BART’s Board of Directors, said those studies came up with good reasons for running Haggerty’s dream off the rails.

“It’s a road to boondoggle,” Radulovich said. Among other things, he said, extending BART service from the Dublin-Pleasanton station to Livermore — at least as envisioned by Haggerty’s group — would require shifting 5 miles of lanes on already clogged Interstate 580.

And the push for the new line comes at a time when BART says it needs $9 billion in new infrastructure just to keep its present system running.

On top of that, Radulovich said, Haggerty wants to cut BART out of the decision-making.

“Haggerty wants to determine the outcome before the study has been done,” Radulovich said.

From the looks of things, however, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which doles out the big money for such transit projects — and where Haggerty holds a seat — is ready to play.

“Commissioner Haggerty wants to create some momentum,” said commission spokesman Randy Rentschler. “Traffic has been terrible, and something has to be done.”

And whether it was to appease Haggerty and his allies in the suburbs or because they thought it a good idea, commissioners voted Wednesday to spend more than $2.2 million in bridge toll money on the effort — including $660,000 to hire a consultant to lead the project for the next two years.

“This is putting the cart in front of the horse,’ said San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, the lone commission member to vote against the new spending.

In an interesting twist, the money will go to Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, a small southern Alameda County bus system that has 12 employees and no rail experience — and where Haggerty also chairs the board of directors.

The agency will serve as a conduit until a new 12-member joint Alameda County-Central Valley Authority, being proposed by Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon, can be created by the state Legislature.

Also among those on board with the idea — Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, San Joaquin County Supervisor Moses Zapien, Tracy City Councilwman Veronica Vargas and BART director John McPartland.

All in all, quite a power play.

Haggerty said the resistance by Wiener and Radulovich is typical of the tug-of-war for money between Bay Area cities and the suburbs. Radulovich, like Wiener, comes from San Francisco, while Haggerty’s district includes such commute-weary towns as Livermore, Dublin and Fremont.

“With Bay Area home prices being what they are, more and more workers are moving into the valley,” Haggerty said. “Connecting BART with the ACE train isn’t far-fetched. It makes sense.”

Haggerty is not averse to flexing his political muscle. He let it be known that he was withholding his decision on whether to support BART’s big $3.5 billion regional bond measure on the November ballot until after the transportation commission voted on his funding request.

“I still haven’t made up my mind,” Haggerty said after the vote.

By the way, so far there hasn’t been an official peep from BART headquarters — even if, privately, staffers are gnashing their teeth.

Sporting news: With very little attention, Cal Athletic Director Mike Williams recently announced a 10-year, $100 million “guaranteed” agreement with the sports marketing outfit Learfield for the rights to sell Cal’s brand through TV, radio, social media and other outlets.

That licensing deal follows Cal’s 10-year, $86 million agreement with sports apparel maker Under Armour to promote the company’s name on team uniforms and elsewhere.

The university also picked up an extra $1 million to play its football home opener this season in Australia, and will collect $500,000 extra this year for its split of Pac-12 TV revenue.

All good news, because Cal sports needs every last dime. It’s saddled with an $18 million annual debt from the seismic retrofit of its football stadium. And with UC Berkeley facing a $150 million budget deficit, campus sports are bracing for big cuts.

To help deflect heat from the boosters, Chancellor Nicholas Dirks has formed a special task force to help provide cover for decisions that are sure to prove unpopular.

The 12-member Committee on Interscholastic Sports — which is being co-chaired by Academic Senate leader Robert Powell and UC Berkeley trustee Robert O’Donnell — is expected to deliver its recommendations to the chancellor by the start of the spring semester.

Campus insiders tell us battle lines already are being drawn between alumni fans looking to avoid deep cuts and faculty looking to protect academic programs.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross