METRO Light Rail
Light Rail Safety
Safety is METRO’s highest priority
METRO shares the road with automobile traffic in the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. At any time of the day or night, you can find yourself near an operating light rail vehicle or a METRO train consisting of two or three vehicles connected together. Each METRO vehicle is 90 feet long and weighs more than 100,000 pounds. Now is the time to learn and practice the rules of light rail safety.
Use the information and links on this page to get an overview of light rail safety and your responsibilities. Also learn about the safety elements that METRO has designed into the system.
Driving
- Never stop or park your car on light rail tracks.
- Obey all traffic signals. A red arrow means “do not turn.”
- Never try to beat a train through an intersection.
- Light rail trains are quiet. Look for flashing headlights and listen for warning bells and horns.
- Look both ways before crossing the tracks
- Treat METRO high-voltage power lines with the same respect as utility company lines.
Biking
- Never bike on light rail tracks and always walk your bike at the station and onto the train.
- Obey traffic lights. A red arrow means “do not turn.”
- Look both ways before crossing the tracks.
- Light rail trains are quiet. Look for flashing headlights and listen for warning bells and horns.
- When crossing the tracks at intersections, cross at an angle to avoid falling or tire damage.
Download light rail and bicycles panel PDF
Walking
- Do not walk on or stand near the tracks.
- Jaywalking is illegal and unsafe. Cross only at crosswalks and obey the crosswalk signals.
- Be alert when near the tracks. Light rail is extremely quiet. Look for flashing headlights and listen for warning bells and horns.
Teach your kids about light rail safety
- Remind your children to stop, look and listen—especially around light rail tracks.
- Teach children to cross intersections only in a crosswalk and to obey the crosswalk signals.
- Never allow children to play near the tracks or fly kites near the high-voltage overhead power lines.
- When walking with children, keep them together and away from the tracks.
- Skateboarding, rollerblading or biking in the tracks or on light rail platforms is unsafe and not permitted.
Park-and-ride security
METRO park-and-ride lots are monitored by cameras and patrolling security, but you can also be pro-active in your vehicle and property protection by using the following precautions:
- Always lock your car, close windows and use emergency brake.
- Never leave valuables in vehicle or in plain sight.
- Remove your keys from vehicle; never leave vehicle running unattended.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Report suspicious activity – call 911 or use the park-and-ride’s emergency call box.
Learn more about additional layers of vehicle security from the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority, including steering wheel and brake pedal locks, theft-deterrent decals, alarm systems and kill switches.