Tollway gives itself clean bill of ethics

The tollway's inspector general issued a report Thursday saying the agency was clear of any improprieties related to the corruption arrest of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

At the same time, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has put $1.8 billion in construction projects linked to the political scandal on hold.

Federal prosecutors indicted Blagojevich in April, saying he used his position for personal and financial gain by selling government positions and exacting donations from contractors.

Blagojevich is accused of trying to armtwist a highway contractor into giving him $500,000 in connection with the tollway's Congestion Relief Phase Two program. The $1.8 billion program announced by the former governor on Oct. 15 includes adding carpool or "green lanes," an interchange at the Tri-State and I-57, improvements to the I-290/I-90 interchange, and other unspecified interchange projects.

Blagojevich told the contractor on Sept. 18 about the program before it became public and hinted he might authorize an additional $6 billion later, prosecutors contend.

The former governor says he is innocent of all wrongdoing.

Tollway Inspector General Tracy Smith, an attorney, interviewed Chairman John Mitola, three tollway directors and staff and found no misconduct, she said.

Smith concluded construction plans were developed independently by tollway staff. She stated tollway staff met with the governor Sept. 26 and presented a variety of options ranging from $1.8 billion to $7.5 billion, which would have included the Elgin O'Hare Expressway and part of a western bypass around O'Hare. The consensus was that the $1.8 billion option was the most prudent because of the poor economy and a desire to avoid raising tolls on passenger vehicles, Smith reported.

Board Director Betty-Ann Moore of Libertyville said the findings brought the agency "out from a cloud."

Former tollway Executive Director Brian McPartlin, who was in charge of the agency during the period in question, was not interviewed, said Smith, who is a tollway employee.

Smith did not identify the highway contractor but said she was informed by tollway leaders "he was not involved in the planning process."