Rail champions celebrate kick-off of 10-year Valley Metro Rail celebration and Quality of Life report. From left, Skip Rimsza, Former Phoenix Mayor; Nate Stum, Vice President of Development for LMC; Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell; Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams, Phil Gordon, Former Phoenix Mayor; Keno Hawker, Former Mesa Mayor; Mesa Mayor John Giles; Scott Smith, Valley Metro CEO and Former Mesa Mayor.
Valley Metro
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Rail champions celebrate kick-off of 10-year Valley Metro Rail celebration and Quality of Life report. From left, Skip Rimsza, Former Phoenix Mayor; Nate Stum, Vice President of Development for LMC; Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell; Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams, Phil Gordon, Former Phoenix Mayor; Keno Hawker, Former Mesa Mayor; Mesa Mayor John Giles; Scott Smith, Valley Metro CEO and Former Mesa Mayor.
Valley Metro
Leaders past, present, and future gathered to kickoff Valley Metro Rail’s 10-year anniversary, also known as the “Railversary.” Valley Metro CEO Scott Smith welcomed a prestigious slate of speakers, including rail city mayors, who shared the transformation that has occurred in their cities over the past 10 years.
“Since light rail opened, we’ve transformed from a quiet downtown into a bustling hot spot for innovation, education, and business,” said Phoenix Mayor and Valley Metro Rail Board Chair Thelda Williams.
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Former Phoenix mayor and early light rail champion, Skip Rimsza, gave credit to city and business partners for making the original 20-mile system a reality.
Along with public sector support, investment from developers helped boost the transformation of communities near light rail. According to the Quality of Life impact report, there has been $11 billion of investment and 35,000 jobs created within one-half mile of the 26-mile corridor. The report also focuses on how light rail contributes to fostering community health and connecting communities.
“Light rail gives families the freedom of transportation mobility without all the costs of owning one or even two cars,” said Diana Yazzie Devine, president and CEO of Native American Connections. “That means families have greater housing stability with more disposable income for taking care of their family’s basic needs and enjoying a better quality of life.”
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.
The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time by extending the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan, and 130th streets.
The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.
While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.
With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.
The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
