The costly probe into costly misconduct at Metra

Who'd have thought it would cost so much money to figure out how so much money was misused?

That's one of the aftershocks of the whole sad Metra scandal involving former Executive Director Phil Pagano. Pagano killed himself May 7, the day Metra directors were expected to fire him in the midst of an investigation into financial misconduct.

It turned out Pagano had essentially given himself unauthorized advances in vacation pay by forging Chairman Carole Doris' signature on several documents. The tally is more than $475,000, and now it's revealed that Pagano also enriched the pensions of senior executives by approving various perks to the tune of $264,000, without informing the Metra board.

Regional Transportation Authority auditors who made the findings scrutinizing pension funds characterized the situation as "odd," "imprudent," and "an abuse of power," which is auditor-speak for a cozy situation where public money was thrown away on an inner circle of high-ranking administrators.

"It seems the executive director had years to do his strange workings and somehow nobody noticed that. no one saw a red flag," RTA Director Judy Baar Topinka said last week.

Yes, that's what everyone's wondering, although there's no shortage of explanations.

But now the RTA has approved an audit of executive compensation at Metra over 10 years that will cost up to $124,000. Metra has hired a temporary inspector general for $358 an hour, an executive search firm costing about $23,000 not to mention an attorney who did the initial investigation for $250 an hour.

The RTA also confirmed that Pagano's pension will be paid to his wife but any misused funds will be subtracted from the total amount.

Flotsam and jetsam

• As work starts on the mega project to build an underpass at the Belmont station on Metra's BNSF Line in Downers Grove, weekday riders at the Aurora, Fairview Avenue and Lisle stations will see some schedule changes of 1 or 2 minutes on the inbound route during early morning rush. Outbound commuters getting off at Aurora, Westmont, Fairview and Route 59 stations will experience similar fluctuations in departure times. For details, check the metrarail.com website. Why do I call it a mega project? It will cost more than $54 million.

• The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is asking drivers to chime in on how to improve customer service. It's part of a transition effort by new Executive Director Kristie LaFleur who started in April. So don't hold back, check out illinoistollway.com and click on the "Talk to Us," link.

• Perfectly respectable and no pop-ups. That's what to expect going on the RTA's main website or its Goroo trip planner. The agency Thursday contracted with Municipal Media Solutions of Chicago to put ads on its two websites. It's expected the RTA will receive about $213,000 in its first year. And at the request of RTA directors, all ads will be appropriate and no pop-ups will appear.

Incoming

• Good news for Ike construction survivors. IDOT will open all lanes of traffic on I-290 between the Racine exit and I-88 this weekend. Through the fall, expect nighttime lane closures plus ramp and shoulder closures.

• Registration is open for the Active Transportation Alliance's yearly Boulevard Lakefront Tour through parks and historical neighborhoods on Aug. 29. There's a family friendly option and a more challenging route. For info, check out boulevardtour.org.