Phoenix’s Valley Metro hired Alexis Tameron Kinsey as the agency’s chief of staff and senior advisor, where she will manage government relations and provide strategic counsel to CEO Scott Smith.
She is transitioning from her role as director of government relations at Verra Mobility — a global technology company providing transportation safety solutions for government agencies and commercial fleets. Her career experience also includes serving as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell.
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Abigail Cooksey-Williams
Leading the agency’s ride-share efforts, Abigail Cooksey-Williams is continuing her career in trip reduction as the agency’s new manager, transportation demand management. She will manage the Commute Solutions team, who is responsible for supporting Valley employers in meeting trip reduction goals by using alternative modes of transportation.
Cooksey-Williams has worked as change management lead for the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office, while at the same time serving as an appointee on the Regional Travel Reduction Task Force. She has also managed the State of Arizona Travel Reduction Programs, including Capitol Rideshare.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.