In releasing the long-awaited audit, Montee concluded that Metro failed to control the costs of the eight-mile light rail extension and didn't ensure that the original designs were complete. The Shrewsbury line was a $676 million light-rail project that came in significantly over budget.

The line opened in August 2006 and runs from the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station to Clayton and Shrewsbury. The line surpassed its original budget by about $136 million.

"Clearly, there was a problem and all of the issues weren't addressed," Montee said at a news conference today in downtown St. Louis. "At the end of the day, it was Metro's responsibility and they went forward with something instead of sitting down and figuring out what the issues were."

Metro fired the original designers and construction managers and took over the project. The agency unsuccessfully sued the design team, known as the Cross County Collaborative. The failed lawsuit cost the agency more than $27 million, most of it in legal bills.

Montee and her predecessor, Claire McCaskill, were at odds with Metro over access to records after Gov. Matt Blunt ordered the audit in 2005. Metro leaders are expected to respond to the findings this afternoon at the agency's headquarters.

Montee added that Metro's governing board approved bonuses, executive stipends, severance payments and retroactive raises to three agency executives. The agency also paid retention incentives to 14 members of its engineering department.