Pagano left legacy of service improvements

When Philip Pagano joined Metra in 1984, fare increases and poor service had driven away almost one-third of the railroad agency's passengers, and it had the fewest customers in its history.

The lesson wasn't lost on Pagano.

The agency slowly began to rebuild its service and its ridership, and when Pagano took over as executive director in 1990, he continued the trend, until the agency regained all the lost passengers and set a ridership record in 2008.

The gradual improvement and expansion of the system reflected Pagano's methodical, sometimes stubborn and demanding approach, according to those who worked with him.

It's a legacy that made Pagano's death all the more shocking to his colleagues Friday, after he was hit by a Metra train in an apparent suicide, following allegations he misappropriated funds.

Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder, who serves on Metra's board, said Pagano was single-mindedly dedicated to his job.

"He was all about Metra," she said. "It was about making Metra the number one rail in America."

While the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace suburban bus system suffered repeated fiscal crises, fare hikes and service cuts, analysts like DePaul University Professor Joseph Schwieterman credited Metra with smaller fare hikes and steadier service, balanced budgets, and a 95 percent on-time performance.

Pagano's greatest accomplishment may have been the creation in 1996 of the North Central Service - the first new commuter rail service in the region since before the Depression.

While suburban mayors created the political push for the project, Pagano deserved "a lion's share" of credit for making it happen and getting federal funding, Northwest Municipal Conference Executive Director Mark Fowler said.

"We had a very solid working relationship with him," he said, "and I can't tell you how much the organization is going to miss him."

The main criticism of Metra under Pagano's watch was that it was slow to change. For example, it took years and a legislative directive to get the agency to start accepting credit cards last year.

Suburban leaders want more express service, and just two weeks ago, the agency said it could not offer wireless Internet service.

Metra also ran into other serious problems in recent years.

Its ridership dropped 5 percent last year. Rising fuel prices and lower revenue created shortfalls in its operating funds, while it's also run short of money to maintain its equipment.

But former Metra board Chairman Jeffrey Ladd said any shortcomings were due to outside fiscal forces, not to Pagano, who he said faithfully implemented board policy.

"Phil made a tremendous contribution to transit in the Chicagoland area, no question about it," Ladd said. "It's a great legacy, that's why I'm so shocked by (his death). I just can't tell you how tragic I consider this all to be."

DePaul's Schwieterman, who studies transportation, credited Pagano for making slow and steady improvements.

"Metra has been a Rock of Gibraltar in a very turbulent environment," he said.

Many of Metra's improvements under Pagano were incremental, like its 2006 extension of service on the Union Pacific West Line to Elburn, and the Southwest Corridor extension to rural Manhattan.

Over the years, the agency also made major renovations to Ogilvie and Millennium Park stations downtown.

Two of Pagano's biggest projects are yet to be realized due to lack of funding: the STAR line along the Northwest Tollway, which would link several other rail lines, and the Southeast Service near the Indiana state line.

Former Regional Transportation Authority Executive Director Paula Thibeault said she relied on Pagano's advice.

"He built the best transit system in the United States," she said. "He was tenacious, always looking out for his employees and the taxpayers. Metra was his baby and he built that system."

Daily Herald staff writers Marni Pyke and Joseph Ryan contributed to this report.