Metro-North Railroad conductors collected overtime pay for time spent changing their clothes, washing their hands and traveling to and from work — and the extra cash was being funded with federal stimulus funds.
A scathing report, which outlined several alleged instances of abuse of Metro-North’s $72.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, also revealed the railroad didn’t keep accurate records of when conductors clocked out, and signed off on overtime with no justification.
Metro-North wasn’t alone in the sketchy overtime payments, noted state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who released the findings Monday.
The audit also raised questions about the Long Island Rail Road’s $102.8 million in ARRA funding, which showed overtime was paid on shifts that weren’t worked.
“The MTA should take a harder look at wasteful spending and work to tighten up its operations,” DiNapoli said.
The Metro-North audit revealed that workers collected 2 hours and 40 minutes of overtime every day for wardrobe changes and travel.
MTA officials said Metro-North and the LIRR have already beefed up their oversight.