Why haven't Metra board members been fired

Here's one answer: The Metra board has almost as many bosses as it has members. The 11 directors are appointed by politicians in eight jurisdictions, a power-sharing compromise that's more about turf protection than joint governance.

Accountability? Forget it. Removing the board would require collective action by commissioners in Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake and Will counties, as well as the mayor ofChicago and the president of the Cook County Board. The directors can fire each other, but it takes a formal finding of incompetence or neglect of duty and a vote of eight. It's hard to clean house that way.

transit boards; lots of perks, little accountability - chicagotribune.com