Metra begins transparency makeover with Illinois Policy Institute’s help

Institute works with Metra to improve government transparency as a way to increase accountability and to deter public corruption.

Brian Costin
Director of Government Reform

If you take a Metra train be sure to check out the headline story of April’s “On the Bi-Level” newsletter titled “Metra to add to website to boost transparency,” written by Metra Board Chairman Brad O’Halloran.

“Metra’s website already offers a great deal of information to anyone interested in our agency, but it’s about to offer a great deal more.…
I’ve asked Metra staff to make some significant additions to the site in a variety of areas to be sure we are as transparent as we can possibly be. The website for Orland Park, where I serve as a trustee, was recently awarded a 100 percent score in the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project, and I want Metra’s site to score just as highly.”

O’Halloran announced that Metra will be using the Illinois Policy Institute’s 10-Point Transparency Checklist as a framework for the agency’s push towards greater transparency.

“As part of their project, they’ve created a handy 10-point checklist for governments to use to help them become more transparent. We’ll be using the checklist in the coming months to add content to our site and make sure riders and taxpayers have full access to critical information.”

We look forward to working with Metra and other government agencies in improving government transparency as a way to increase accountability and to deter public corruption.

View the full article here.