Valley Metro Receives Certificate of Commendation on APTA Award Win
10/26/2026
Transit leaders and regional officials gathered October 21 at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ, to celebrate Valley Metro as APTA’s 2026 Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year. The agency won under the category of transit agencies providing more than 15 million but fewer than 50 million annual passenger trips.
In recognition of the award, the agency was presented with a U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Commendation from Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ). The certificate acknowledged the agency’s “strengthened connections between communities and improved quality of life across the Phoenix region.”
APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas praised Valley Metro as a model for public transportation nationwide. The agency delivered more than 40 million trips in 2025 and recorded ridership growth of more than 7 percent.
Skoutelas highlighted Valley Metro’s South Central Extension, which expanded the region’s light rail system into a 35-mile, two-line network, as well as improvements in safety, customer technology, and asset management. He also referenced the agency’s redesigned bus network, 90 percent on-time performance, and a rider satisfaction score approaching 90 percent.
The celebration also included remarks from event host Friends of Transit Executive Director Rachelle Giles and Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority Board Chair Max White, Board Member Ann O’Brien, and CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller.
See more photos from the event.