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Arizona driving lesson · Sharing the Road

METRO light rail safety

A 3-minute lesson from the Arizona course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
48, 49, 50

METRO light rail trains run on Valley streets in Maricopa County, right beside car traffic. They're quiet, and they can't swerve. Know where you may cross the tracks and never stop on them.

Know the rule

Automobiles may turn across the METRO tracks only from designated turn lanes controlled by traffic signals.

Handbook p. 48 ↗

Know the rule

METRO runs in its own trackway, separated from traffic by six-inch curbs. Cars may cross only at controlled locations, where special signals and warning signs activate as trains approach.

Handbook p. 48 ↗
Light rail crossing
Train approaching sign

Know the rule

Electronic "train approaching" signs are posted at all METRO light rail intersections and flash when a train is approaching.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Left turn or U-turn permitted sign
Left turn and U-turn sign

Know the rule

U-turns are permitted at almost all light rail intersections in the 20-mile METRO system so vehicles can cross the tracks. Left turns and U-turns are controlled by traffic signals.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Driving and biking near light rail:

  • Never stop or park your car or bike on the tracks
  • Stop on red; a red arrow means "Do Not Turn"
  • Look both ways before crossing the tracks
  • Never drive or ride in the area where the train operates
  • Trains are quiet: look for flashing headlights and listen for bells and horns
  • Train ends look identical: white headlights = approaching, red taillights = moving away
Handbook p. 49 ↗

Walking near light rail:

  • Don't walk on or stand near the tracks
  • Cross only at crosswalks and obey crosswalk signs
  • Adults should hold small children's hands near tracks and on platforms
  • Get off bikes and skateboards and walk them through crosswalks
  • Don't fly kites or model airplanes or climb trees near overhead power lines
  • Skateboarding, rollerblading and biking on tracks or platforms isn't permitted
Handbook p. 49 ↗

Know the rule

Stations are designed to discourage jaywalking: each has two access points reachable by signalized crosswalk.

Handbook p. 48 ↗

Put it into practice

You're turning left across the light rail tracks on a red arrow with no train in sight. Wait — a red arrow means do not turn, and trains are quiet enough to surprise you.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Near METRO light rail tracks, a train showing white headlights is doing what?
  1. Approaching you
  2. Moving away from you
  3. Stopped at a station
  4. Out of service

Answer: Approaching you

The ends of a light rail train are identical: white headlights show a train approaching, red taillights show it moving away.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Where may automobiles turn across the METRO light rail tracks?
  1. At any break in the curb
  2. Only from signal-controlled turn lanes
  3. Anywhere, if no train is visible
  4. Only at mid-block crossings

Answer: Only from signal-controlled turn lanes

Automobiles may turn across the METRO tracks only from designated turn lanes controlled by traffic signals.

Handbook p. 48 ↗
What separates the METRO light rail trackway from auto traffic?
  1. Concrete barriers
  2. Painted double white lines
  3. Six-inch curbs
  4. Chain-link fences

Answer: Six-inch curbs

METRO travels in its own trackway, separated from traffic by six-inch curbs; cars may cross only at controlled locations.

Handbook p. 48 ↗
Because light rail trains are quiet, you should look for flashing train headlights and listen for warning bells and horns near the tracks.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Light rail trains are quiet, so pay attention near the tracks: look for flashing headlights and listen for bells and horns.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
You may briefly stop your car on light rail tracks if traffic ahead is backed up.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Never stop or park your car or bike on light rail tracks.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
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