Valley Metro has released a new safety and security app that allows light rail riders to directly report incidents such as spilled drinks or medical concerns. The app is called AlertVM and is an added element of the Respect the Ride program that was introduced last fall.

Susan Tierney is the communications manager for Valley Metro and said the app allows staff to see issues through the eyes of its riders.

“So we felt like our system is maturing. This year it will be 10 years that we’ve been in service," Tierney said. "And we felt that it was kind of the next step that we needed to take in order to ensure that every passenger that pays a fare has a safe and comfortable ride.”

Tierney said that along with reporting suspicious activity, the app can alert riders to maintenance issues or service delays.