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Valley Metro welcomes new Chief of Staff and Chief Transportation Officer

Valley Metro welcomes two new members to its executive leadership team as the agency evolves preparing for expanded service and increased focus on riders and regional mobility.

PHOENIX—Valley Metro welcomes two new members to its executive leadership team as the agency evolves preparing for expanded service and increased focus on riders and regional mobility.

  • Melissa Boyles, Chief of Staff 
  • Mike Pal, Chief Transportation Officer 

“I am extremely excited to add these two new talented leaders to the Valley Metro team,” said Jessica Mefford-Miller, Valley Metro CEO. “They will each bring a variety of new skills that will help us build the regional transit system that Maricopa County residents want and deserve.”

Boyles has 25 years of transportation industry experience. She has served in program management, civil rights program development and compliance, and in national roles developing diversity, equity and inclusion and social equity programs. Boyles has had 12 years serving in executive leadership roles at transportation-related private sector organizations. Essential in her Chief of Staff job, she has a comprehensive understanding of the transportation industry, strong alliances with national and local transportation professionals, and a passion for public transportation. In her role, she will assist the CEO and coordinate with internal team members and city partners to further initiatives important to the organization and the future of transit in the Valley.

Pal has nearly 30 years of experience managing large-scale transit operations. He began his career with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as a bus operator and advanced swiftly to serve in leadership roles responsible for the delivery of bus, bus rapid transit (BRT) and paratransit. Most recently, he joined Metro Transit in Minneapolis as a Deputy Chief Operating Officer with oversight of bus, light rail, commuter rail and more. In his role as Chief Transportation Officer, he will lead teams tasked with the development and delivery of bus, light rail, streetcar and demand-responsive services, including paratransit in communities across the Valley.

About Valley Metro: Located in the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., Valley Metro connects people to their most important destinations each day. Riders travel across the metro-Phoenix area on eco-friendly public transit including bus, light rail, paratransit, and now, streetcar. In May 2022, Valley Metro opened streetcar in Tempe, which features the transit system’s first off-wire operations. Progress continues on five high-capacity transit extensions that are either in planning or under construction to create a 50-mile rail system by 2030. Valley Metro also offers alternative transportation programs including paratransit services for seniors and people with disabilities, commuter vanpools, online carpool matching, bus trip mapping, bicycle safety and telework assistance. Two Boards of Directors from 18 local cities and towns and the county set the policy direction for the agency with the intent of advancing the regional public transit system in Maricopa County. In additional federal and local funds, Valley Metro receives critical capital and operations funds from Prop. 400, the 20-year, regional half-cent transportation sales tax that is set to expire in 2025. Stay up-to-date by following us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter or by visiting valleymetro.org.