GAO Recommends Clarifying Metro Board's Role

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Government Accountability Office is recommending that Metro continue to clarify the roles and responsibilities of its board of directors.

In a report released Thursday, the GAO finds that the board often focuses on day-to-day responsibilities instead of strategic planning and oversight of the transit agency. The report requested by Democratic Sens. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Patty Murray of Washington state also notes that the board doesn't have a mechanism to measure its performance.

Another report released last year found that Metro's structure has contributed to the system's deterioration in recent years.

Metro's board says it is already strengthening its governance, delegating operations to a chief executive officer and undertaking a strategic planning process to develop a multi-year operational and business plan.

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