Brookville to build streetcar fleet for Valley Metro's Tempe line
The Liberty Streetcars will operate along a new corridor connecting Tempe residents and visitors, as well as Arizona State University students with key current and emerging local destinations.
Brookville's off-wire-capable streetcar in operation in Dallas.
Brookville Equipment Corp. will manufacture a streetcar fleet for Valley Metro Rail after being awarded a $33 million contract to design, build and deliver six off-wire capable Liberty Streetcars for the Tempe Streetcar.
The Liberty Streetcars will operate along a new streetcar corridor connecting Tempe residents and visitors, as well as Arizona State University (ASU) students with key current and emerging local destinations. The streetcar vehicle will include on-board battery energy storage, allowing the vehicles to travel segments without overhead power wires for portions of the route. The streetcar batteries will recharge while connected to areas where there is overhead wire.
Tempe Streetcar riders will experience station-level boarding provided by an automatic leveling system, which adjusts the vehicle’s platform height as passenger loading fluctuates. The vehicles also include more than 70% low floor area and feature priority seating for people with disabilities and mobility devices. Measuring approximately 70 feet long and eight feet eight inches wide, the Liberty Streetcars will comfortably transport a total of approximately 120 passengers with seating for 32 passengers
Tempe will be the fifth city to operate Brookville’s off-wire capable Liberty Streetcars, which are currently in service for DART in Dallas, Texas (four vehicles) and the QLINE Detroit (six vehicles). In addition, Brookville is nearing delivery of Liberty Streetcars for the City of Oklahoma City (seven vehicles) and the City of Milwaukee (five vehicles).
The fleet for Tempe Streetcar is scheduled for delivery by 2020, ahead of the streetcar line’s start-up of service. The vehicles will be designed and manufactured at Brookville’s Western Pennsylvania facility and will exceed Buy America requirements of more than 70% American content.
More Rail
New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility
Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.
Read More →
Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Read More →
DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Read More →
Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
Read More →
California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
Read More →
Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling
The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
Read More →
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.
Read More →
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →