Transportation

Valley Metro awarded national recognition

A Valley Metro light rail train in Tempe heading to Mesa.

Richard H. Dyer

Valley Metro has been awarded the 2026 Outstanding Metro Transportation Award by the American Public Transportation Associationl.

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Transportation

Valley Metro awarded national recognition

Richard H. Dyer

A Valley Metro light rail train in Tempe heading to Mesa.

Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2026 1:14 pm

Valley Metro has been awarded the 2026 Outstanding Metro Transportation Award by the American Public Transportation Associationl.

The organization was recognized for this prestigious award for the tangible and measurable improvements across the organization - from safety and reliability to customer experience, ridership, accessibility, and employee engagement for a system serving 15-50 million annual passenger trips.

The improvements are evident, as Valley Metro registered 41.7 million passenger trips in fiscal year 2026, an 8.7% growth over the previous fiscal year.

Other key metrics include:
•   Bus on-time performance improving to 90%
•   Rail on-time performance improving to 81 %
•   Achieving an all-time high of 89% rider satisfaction rating, according to the 2026 Rider Satisfaction Survey

This national recognition underscores the importance of continued investment and collaboration in building a reliable, accessible, and sustainable transportation system that supports the region’s residents, businesses, and long-term growth. I am extremely proud of Valley Metro’s leadership and employees for going the extra mile!