January 29, 2026
Valley Metro ridership grows in 2025, ranks among top U.S. transit agencies for ridership increase
PHOENIX — Valley Metro ridership continued to rise throughout 2025, reflecting strong regional demand for transit, improved service frequency and major system investments.
The American Public Transportation Association identified Valley Metro as one of the top transit agencies in the nation for ridership growth. Valley Metro ranked top five among mid-sized U.S. transit systems, defined as agencies with 15 million to 50 million annual trips.
In 2025, Valley Metro recorded 40,286,288 total rides across all modes, up from 37,530,214 rides in 2024. This represents a 7.3% increase year over year.
Ridership growth was also supported by major system investments, including Northwest Extension Phase II (NWEII) and the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub (SCEDH) light rail extensions, which expanded access and helped bring more riders to the system:
- NWEII: Since opening in early 2024, the extension recorded 568,567 boardings in 2024 and 751,278 in 2025, a 32.1% increase
- SCEDH: Since opening in June last year, the extension recorded 1,355,511 boardings, accounting for an average of 20% of all boardings.
“Valley Metro is proud to be holding strong alongside our national peers as transit agencies continue to navigate a dynamic environment,” said Valley Metro CEO Jessica Mefford-Miller. “This growth reflects our focus on delivering more reliable service while improving rider experience across the system. We are looking forward to building on this momentum in 2026.”