The Tempe Streetcar serves a C-shaped route through Tempe, from Tempe Town Lake to the southern edge of the Arizona State University Tempe campus, via downtown Tempe. The line operates primarily in mixed traffic, operating in the curbside lane in downtown Tempe and in center lanes elsewhere. The Tempe Streetcar's southern terminus, Dorsey/Apache Blvd, is a shared station with the Valley Metro Rail main line. Another connection to Valley Metro Rail is available at the streetcar's Third St/Mill and Third St/Ash stations, which are within walking distance of the Valley Metro Rail Mill Ave/Third St station.[4]
As of the July 2024 timetable[update], the Tempe Streetcar operates every 20 minutes. Weekday and Saturday service operates for 18 hours per day, and Sunday service operates for 16 hours per day. Northbound trips are scheduled at 19 minutes, and southbound trips are scheduled at 24 minutes.[4]
Stations
The Tempe Streetcar has a total of 14 stops.[5][6]
Tempe Streetcar #183 heading southeast on Apache Blvd around ASU Gammage
The Tempe Streetcar operates a fleet of 6 Brookville Liberty NXT cars, built by Brookville Equipment in Brookville, Pennsylvania. The cars are 70 feet (21 m) long, with 32 seats and a maximum capacity of approximately 120 passengers. Tempe Streetcar cars are of a 70% low floor design, and are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Tempe Streetcar cars are stored and maintained at the Valley Metro Operations and Maintenance Center, located across the Salt River in Phoenix. The OMC was built in 2006 to serve the Valley Metro Rail system, and was expanded in 2021. Tempe Streetcar cars access the OMC via the Valley Metro Rail main line, which has a track connection to the streetcar line at Dorsey/Apache Boulevard station.[7][8]
The majority of the Tempe Streetcar line is powered by overhead lines at 750 V DC. Overhead lines are not installed in the central section of the streetcar line through downtown Tempe, and streetcars operate on battery power.[6]
Fares
The Tempe Streetcar launched with free service in 2022, and was expected to be free for one year.[9] As of October 2024[update], the streetcar is expected to remain free through the end of 2024. The fare for the streetcar will be $1, lower than the standard Valley Metro local service fare of $2.[4]
History
The development of Tempe began in the 1870s, and with the opening of the Territorial Normal School at Tempe in 1886, the town grew rapidly. Local rail service in Tempe began in the 1890s, with the opening of a short horsecar line operated by the Tempe Street Railway. The line was unsuccessful, and closed before the end of the decade.[10]
The city of Tempe began studying options for a downtown streetcar in 2007, while construction was underway on the Valley Metro Rail system. Plans were continuously revised for years, leading to concern that funding for the streetcar would be reallocated to other projects.[11]
The prototype battery-powered Kinki Sharyo ameriTRAM, seen here in Dallas in 2011
The planning process for the Tempe Streetcar emphasized aesthetics in downtown Tempe, which led the city and Valley Metro to study alternatives to traditional overhead lines to power the streetcar. As part of the public outreach process, Valley Metro hosted a public exhibition of a prototype battery-equipped streetcar in 2011. The prototype "ameriTRAM" streetcar was built by Kinki Sharyo, the firm that built the original rolling stock for the Valley Metro Rail system, and was exhibited on light rail systems around the United States.[12]
One proposed north-south route along Mill Avenue was denied federal funding in 2013, after the Federal Transit Administration found that it was not cost-effective enough.[11] The route was revised to follow Rio Salado Parkway, Ash Avenue, Mill Avenue, and Apache Boulevard, and a final environmental impact statement was released in July 2015.[5]
Construction cost approximately $200 million and will be funded using the Proposition 400 sales tax and federal grants. In February 2016, the project was identified in President Barack Obama's budget for Fiscal Year 2017. A total of $75 million was dedicated to the project and would supplement the Proposition 400 funds, as well as local funds and other federal grant funds.[16] The final 2017 budget, approved in May 2017 under President Donald Trump, included $50 million.[17]
In December 2016, Valley Metro selected Stantec Consulting Services for design work to be completed in 2017, allowing construction to start later in the year. Stantec has designed other streetcar projects in the United States and contributed to the design of the Valley Metro light rail system.[18] In May 2018, the design was finalized.
Construction began on June 1, 2017, with utility relocation, which made way for tracks to be laid.[20][21] In August 2018, Valley Metro received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to begin the initial phase of significant construction on the Tempe Streetcar. With this approval, Valley Metro began work on building the system's rail trackway, power systems and street improvements.[22]
The first streetcar vehicle was delivered on March 14, 2021, and test runs began in June 2021.[23] The line opened for service on May 20, 2022.[2][24]
As of 2024[update], Valley Metro is in the planning phases of extending the streetcar past its terminus at Marina Heights into Mesa, via Rio Salado Parkway and Dobson Road.[25] The proposed extension would serve major destinations in Mesa and eastern Tempe, including Tempe Marketplace and Sloan Park. The extension would be approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) in length.[26][27]
The Rio East-Dobson Extension project was awarded a $15.9 million federal grant in July 2024. The grant was funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and will help advance the planning process for the proposed line.[28]
