Valley Metro elected Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams to chair its board Thursday.
Williams is taking over in what will be a big year for the regional transportation agency. Light rail will be opening its extension to downtown Mesa in August. That is the same month Phoenix residents will vote on a proposed sales tax increase for transportation.
Williams said getting revenue from that, known as the Transportation Initiative, is essential . She said Valley transportation will suffer otherwise.
"Light rail will be slowed down tremendously; buses will not be improved in any way. We may even lose a couple bus routes. And our streets will be maintained every 65 years,” said Williams.
She said other priorities are expanding bus routes in the north and connecting the light rail to Metrocenter mall in north Phoenix.
Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell was named vice chair of the board.
