Valley Metro receives first streetcar for Tempe fleet

Valley Metro has received the first vehicle in the Tempe Streetcar fleet. The new streetcar can transport up to 120 passengers.

As part of the Phoenix area's multimodal transit system, the streetcar’s focus is on short trips that provide access to neighborhoods and commercial, retail and office spaces. Each streetcar vehicle operates individually, unlike light rail cars that are linked in a two- or three-car train, according to a news release.

The streetcar is 72 feet long, 12 feet high and weighs 91,000 pounds. Manufactured by Brookville Equipment Corp., the vehicle is the first of six that will ultimately make up Valley Metro’s streetcar fleet. The hybrid streetcar can travel off-wire using reserve power stored in its lithium-ion battery.

Over the next few months, the streetcar will undergo vehicle and system testing. Tempe Streetcar is expected to open later this year.