Tempe streetcar project receives $75 million from FTA

The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a $75 million grant to Valley Metro for the Tempe Streetcar project in Tempe, Ariz. The transit infrastructure project will improve mobility and transit service through the historic downtown Tempe area, which is the city’s government and financial center, linking riders to Arizona State University and Valley Metro’s existing light rail system.

The Tempe Streetcar is a three-mile streetcar with 14 stations and six vehicles that will connect downtown Tempe, Arizona State University, and the emerging employment corridor of Rio Salado Parkway, which connects existing light rail serving Phoenix, Mesa, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The total project cost is $192.4 million, including a request of $75 million in federal transit infrastructure grants.

Support for the Tempe Streetcar project is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, which provides funding for major transit infrastructure projects nationwide. Transit infrastructure projects accepted into the CIG program must meet rigorous requirements in law through a multi-year, multi-step process in order to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds.

Since January 20, 2017, FTA has advanced funding for 25 new CIG projects throughout the nation totaling approximately $7.63 billion in funding commitments. With today’s infrastructure funding agreement, this Administration has executed 16 CIG funding agreements totaling more than $3.53 billion in CIG funding.