METRO Light Rail: An Overview


About METRO

METRO is the brand name for Valley Metro Rail Inc., a nonprofit, public corporation charged with the design, construction and operation of the Valley’s light rail system. The cities that participate in the light rail system each have a representative on the METRO Board of Directors.

The METRO Board establishes policies, receives and disburses funds and grants, has the power to enter into contracts, to hire or contract for staff, and to undertake extensions to the system.

METRO Board Structure

Generally, the METRO board members are the mayors of the participating cities, each with three alternates. Board members have weighted voting to ensure that cities investing more in light rail have a corresponding level of authority; however, no city has more than 50 percent of the vote. Weighted voting is recalculated annually.

METRO Board Member List

City of Phoenix
Representative: Councilman Tom Simplot
Alternates:

  1. Mayor Phil Gordon
  2. Vice Mayor Peggy Neely, Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairperson
  3. Winfield “Win” Holden, Citizens Transit Commission Chairperson

City of Tempe
Representative: Mayor Hugh Hallman
Alternates:
  1. Councilmember Shana Ellis
  2. Glenn Kephart, Public Works Manager
  3. Don Cassano, City of Tempe Transportation Commission Chairperson

City of Mesa
Representative: Vice Mayor Kyle Jones
Alternates:
  1. Mayor Scott Smith
  2. Mike James, Deputy Transportation Director
  3. Scott Butler, Government Relations Director

City of Glendale
Representative: Mayor Elaine Scruggs
Alternates:
  1. Craig Tindall, City Attorney
  2. Jamsheed Mehta, Transportation Director
  3. Terry Johnson, Deputy Transportation Director

    4. City of Chandler
    Representative: Mayor Boyd Dunn
    Alternates:
    1. Patrice Kraus, Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator
    2. Councilmember Matt Orlando
    3. Mike Normand, Transportation Services and Planning Manager

    City of Peoria
    Representative: Mayor Bob Barrett
    Alternates:
    1. Councilmember Ron Aames
    2. Carl Swenson, Deputy City Manager
    3. David Moody, P.E., Engineering Director

    City of Scottsdale
    Representative: Mayor Mary Manross
    Alternates:
    1. Vice Mayor Wayne Ecton
    2. Mary O’Connor, Transportation General Manager

      3. The secretary for the METRO board of directors is Gina Frackiewicz.