RTA trifecta, Metra chief search and drivers back on tollways
Talk about an exit strategy. Three of the Regional Transportation Authority's top executives are departing the agency over the next few months.
The exodus started with Andrew Gruber, legal and government affairs czar, who's moving to Salt Lake City.
Second to leave is Chairman Jim Reilly, considered a key player when it comes to twisting arms in Springfield. Reilly resigned Thursday to lead McPier, the organization that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier.
Next out the door is RTA Executive Director Steve Schlickman, who returns to the private sector in October.
The RTA board will pick the new chairman. Since board directors are appointed by the Chicago mayor, Cook County Board and chairmen of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, I'm curious what names surface for Reilly's successor with the competing suburban and city interests.
Tollway traffic upMetra's recent financial scandal has stolen the limelight from the Illinois tollway, which usually gets the lion's share of press.But there's plenty of tollway news from a Thursday meeting that I'll shoehorn in here.bull; After the recession cut into the number of cars and trucks on the road, the agency's seen a slight rebound. I-PASS transactions are up 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2009, Finance Chief Michael Colsch reported. In April, the increase was 6 percent.bull; Tollway directors are reviewing new ethics guidelines aimed at avoiding conflicts of interest.bull; Tollway Director Bill Morris asked for a report on vacation benefits for employees in light of revelations former Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano had received unauthorized advances on his 11 weeks of vacation.Metra leader searchMetra also has a full plate as investigations into financial misconduct continue.bull; Board directors appear ready to embark on a nationwide search to replace Pagano, who committed suicide May 7. Expect directors to hire an executive search firm at an upcoming meeting. What do they want in a chief?"I, for one, am looking for someone who is a transit person, specifically, a rail transit person," Director Jack Schaffer said at a meeting on Wednesday.bull; The board picked the Chicago firm Hillard and Heintze to be its interim inspector general and advise on setting up an IG department. Meanwhile, legislation sponsored by state Sen. Susan Garrett that would have the governor appoint a Metra inspector general with the approval of 60 percent of the Senate died in committee last week. Garrett said she was contacted before the vote by Metra and RTA lobbyists who opposed it. "I was surprised given how important it is to have an independent inspector general," she said.Incomingbull; Give yourself extra time at O'Hare because of a temporary lane closure on the lower level/arrivals road.bull; The National Safety Council will give advice on properly installing child safety seats from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca.bull; Communities seeking funding for innovative transit projects have until June 10 to apply to the RTA at rtachicago.com/programs.