Brookville to build streetcar fleet for Valley Metro's Tempe line

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.