Valley Metro Honored as Top Transit System in North America for 2026
The American Public Transportation Association has recognized Valley Metro, the transit service in metro Phoenix, as the “Outstanding Public Transportation System” for mid-sized agencies. Competing with 30 other agencies serving 15 to 50 million riders, Valley Metro emerged as the winner due to significant improvements in various operational metrics.
Valley Metro’s achievements, such as enhanced customer satisfaction, improved punctuality, and reduced passenger-related incidents, were key factors in receiving the award. CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller highlighted that the assessment considered both quantitative and qualitative performance across nine categories over a three-year span, from 2023 through 2025. “It looks at our quantitative performance across a number of different categories, plus qualitative response over nine different areas, and it looks at our performance over a three-year period,” Mefford-Miller stated.
In the past fiscal year, Valley Metro recorded over 41.7 million riders, reflecting an 8.7% increase from the previous year. This growth was supported by the opening of several light rail extensions and a second line, all completed ahead of schedule and within budget. “We opened [two] rail expansion projects, all ahead of schedule, all within budget,” Mefford-Miller mentioned. “But that’s not all. We have been working to improve service for our riders every single day, and we’ve seen double-digit increases in performance across so many areas, including on-time performance.”
Efforts to enhance safety have also shown positive results, with a notable 55% reduction in rail passenger assaults and a 60% decrease in bus operator assaults between 2024 and 2025. Valley Metro’s commitment to improving its services continues to make significant impacts in the community it serves.
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