Valley Metro Streetcar
| Company type | Public transit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | May 20, 2022 |
| Headquarters | Tempe , United States |
Area served | Tempe, Arizona |
| Products | Streetcar transit service |
| Owner | Valley Metro |
| Website | www |
The Valley Metro Streetcar (S Line), previously known as the Tempe Streetcar, is a contemporary streetcar network located in Tempe, Arizona, managed by Valley Metro. This 3-mile transit route links downtown Tempe, Tempe Town Lake, and the Arizona State University Tempe campus through 14 designated stops. Construction commenced in 2017, with operations beginning on May 20, 2022.
Route and service
The streetcar follows a C-shaped pathway within Tempe, connecting Tempe Town Lake to the southern boundary of the Arizona State University Tempe campus via the downtown area. It primarily travels amid regular traffic, utilizing curbside lanes in the downtown district and center lanes along other sections. The southern endpoint at Dorsey/Apache Blvd features a shared station with the Valley Metro Rail A Line, with further A Line transfer options available near the Third St/Mill and Third St/Ash stations.
, vehicles operate at 20-minute intervals. Service hours extend up to 18 hours on weekdays and Saturdays, while Sundays offer 16 hours of operation. Trips heading northbound require approximately 19 minutes, whereas southbound journeys take around 24 minutes.[1]
Stations
The Valley Metro Streetcar system comprises 14 stations.[2][3]
| Station[2][3] | Character Area | ↓ | ↑ | Layout[2][3] | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marina Heights/Rio Salado Parkway | Rio Salado | ● | ● | 2 tracks, island platform, located in street center | Northern terminus |
| Hayden Ferry/Rio Salado Parkway | Rio Salado | ● | ● | 1 track, island platform, centered in street | |
| Tempe Beach Park/Rio Salado Parkway | Rio Salado | ● | 1 track, side platform, positioned in street center | ||
| 3rd Street/Mill Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | 1 track, side platform, curbside lane | Transfers available to A Line at Template:Stn | |
| 3rd Street/Ash Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | 1 track, side platform, curbside lane | Transfers available to A Line at Template:Stn | |
| 5th Street/Ash Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | 1 track, side platform, curbside lane | ||
| 6th Street/Mill Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | 1 track, side platform, curbside lane | ||
| University Drive/Ash Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | 1 track, side platform, curbside lane | ||
| 9th Street/Mill Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | ● | 2 tracks, island platform, centered in street | |
| 11th Street/Mill Avenue | Rio Salado | ● | ● | 2 tracks, island platform, centered in street | |
| College Avenue/Apache Boulevard | Apache | ● | ● | 2 tracks, island platform, centered in street | |
| Paseo del Saber/Apache Boulevard | Apache | ● | ● | 2 tracks, island platform, centered in street | |
| Rural/Apache Boulevard | Apache | ● | ● | 2 tracks, island platform, centered in street | |
| Dorsey/Apache Boulevard | Apache | ● | ● | 1 track, side platform, centered in street | Connection to A Line |
Technology
The Valley Metro Streetcar fleet consists of six Brookville Liberty NXT vehicles, manufactured by Brookville Equipment in Brookville, Pennsylvania. Each 70-foot (21-meter) car accommodates 32 seated passengers and can carry up to 120 individuals, incorporating a 70% low-floor design to ensure complete accessibility.
These streetcars are housed and serviced at the Valley Metro Operations and Maintenance Center located across the Salt River in Phoenix. Originally constructed in 2006 to support Valley Metro Rail operations, the facility underwent expansion in 2021. Streetcars reach this center through a track link at the Dorsey/Apache Boulevard station.
Power for the majority of the streetcar route is supplied by 750 V DC overhead wires, except within the central downtown Tempe segment where vehicles operate using battery power.
Fares
When service began in 2022, the Valley Metro Streetcar offered complimentary rides, initially planned for a one-year duration. As of October 2024, this fare-free period is extended through August 4, 2025. Fare collection machines are currently being installed; future payments will be accepted via the regional Copper Card and the Valley Metro App. The anticipated fare is set at $1, which is lower than the standard $2 local fare on other Valley Metro services.
History
Tempe's involvement with rail transit dates back to the 1890s with a brief operation of a horse-drawn streetcar line. In 2007, alongside ongoing development of Valley Metro Rail, Tempe initiated planning for a downtown streetcar system. Early efforts emphasized blending aesthetically with the downtown environment, leading to investigations into alternatives to conventional overhead power delivery.
In 2011, Valley Metro presented a battery-powered prototype called "ameriTRAM," developed by Kinki Sharyo, the manufacturer behind Valley Metro Rail vehicles. A proposed north-south alignment along Mill Avenue was denied federal funding in 2013 due to questions about cost-effectiveness; consequently, the route was adjusted to encompass Rio Salado Parkway, Ash Avenue, Mill Avenue, and Apache Boulevard. The final environmental impact assessment was published in July 2015.
A request for proposals issued in 2016 attracted submissions from leading manufacturers such as Alstom, Bombardier, CAF USA, Kinki Sharyo, and Siemens. Vehicle options under consideration included battery-powered models, overhead catenary systems, and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
With an estimated budget near $200 million, funding sources include Proposition 400 sales tax revenues alongside federal grants. President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2017 budget allocated $75 million toward the project; however, the final FY2017 budget under President Donald Trump provided $50 million.
Valley Metro contracted Stantec Consulting Services in December 2016 for design services completed by May 2018. Stantec contributed expertise from prior U.S. streetcar projects as well as experience with the Valley Metro light rail network.
In 2017, Brookville Equipment Corporation was awarded a $33 million contract to supply six Brookville Liberty streetcars capable of off-wire operation using lithium-ion batteries that allow segments of the route to be traversed without overhead wiring.
Construction activities commenced on June 1, 2017, beginning with utility relocations followed by track laying. Approval from the Federal Transit Administration arrived in August 2018, enabling major construction efforts on rail infrastructure, power systems, and street enhancements.
The first streetcar vehicle was delivered on March 14, 2021; testing began in June of that year. The line officially started service on May 20, 2022.
Planned extension
In 2024, Valley Metro has proposed extending the S Line Streetcar beyond its current endpoint at Marina Heights, reaching into Mesa through Rio Salado Parkway and Dobson Road. This extension, spanning roughly , is designed to connect prominent locations in both Mesa and eastern Tempe, such as Tempe Marketplace and Sloan Park.
The Rio East-Dobson Extension initiative received a federal grant of $15.9 million in July 2024, provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to finance the planning stages of this expansion.