This week's resounding courtroom loss could spell trouble for Metro transit agency's top man.

Metro President Larry Salci already drew fire last month for a disparaging remark he made about St. Louis and a local television reporter. Now a civil jury has rejected the public transportation agency's argument that the original designers and construction managers were largely responsible for delays and overruns on the Shrewsbury MetroLink extension.

When the jury found in favor of the Cross County Collaborative, awarding the joint venture $2.56 million in damages and rejecting Metro's $81 million claim, Salci left the courtroom without talking to reporters.

That left a Metro lawyer and local leaders to respond to the verdicts. St. Louis and St. Louis County hinted Friday that changes may be in order. St. Louis County voters are being asked to approve a half-cent sales tax in February to support operations and future expansion of MetroLink in the county.

"I'm disappointed with today's ruling," St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley said. "My staff and I are looking at this decision and studying the options. I believe it is clear that some changes need to be made, but for this community to continue to grow and be economically competitive, a healthy transportation system is essential."

Jeff Rainford, chief of staff to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, said the mayor had urged the transit agency to settle its dispute with the collaborative and cooperate with state audits. Metro, he said, refused. Then the agency dragged "two local quality St. Louis companies" - Kwame Building Group and Jacobs Engineering Group - through the mud in its failed lawsuit, Rainford said.