Construction has begun on the modern streetcar line that city officials say will help urbanize Tucson.
The 3.9-mile streetcar route will connect major activity centers, including the University of Arizona, Fourth Avenue and Downtown Tucson. The streetcar’s route and fares will be integrated with the regional bus system, the Sun Tran, the university’s CatTran system and the Old Pueblo Trolley as well.
Tucson Transportation Department spokesman Michael Graham predicts the streetcar will boost the economy and the quality of life in Tucson. Construction of the streetcar line and related long-term jobs, such as new businesses, are expected to generate 1,650 related jobs, he said. Shellie Ginn, project manager for the modern streetcar, said that property values along the route could increase as high as 30 percent. More than the 125,000 people who work, live and reside along the route will benefit from it.
“Downtown just in the past year has become much more alive,” said Gene Caywood, the president and CEO of Old Pueblo Trolley. “More people are going there so there will be more businesses, it’s a snowball effect.”
Some citizens are concerned that this project is costly and will not benefit most Tucsonans.
“These electric cars will be serving a very small percent of the population—irrelevant,” said Keith VanHeyningen, a 47-year-old Tucson resident.
But Ginn predicts the average opening year ridership for the modern streetcar to be 3,600 people boarding daily.
According to the city council, 68.5 percent of the costs will be paid from federal funds and 31.5 percent will be paid by local sources. The budget includes $63 million in federal grant money. Before the streetcar lines are built, a bridge will be built at Cushing Street over the Santa Cruz River and all other construction including waterlines, transmission mains and concrete replacements must be completed.
The Tucson modern streetcar project continues to work closely with the Federal Transit Administration as the project enters the construction phase.
Britton Dornquast, program manager for the Regional Transportation Authority’s MainStreet Business Assistance program, explained that all infrastructures of the streetcar had to be updated throughout the entire route before more visible changes of construction could begin, but the project should be completed no later than early 2013. The tracks and the first vehicle will be delivered in 2012 and will require safety testing before it will up and running.
Construction has begun on the modern streetcar line that city officials say will help urbanize Tucson.
The 3.9-mile streetcar route will connect major activity centers, including the University of Arizona, Fourth Avenue and Downtown Tucson. The streetcar’s route and fares will be integrated with the regional bus system, the Sun Tran, the university’s CatTran system and the Old Pueblo Trolley as well.
Tucson Transportation Department spokesman Michael Graham predicts the streetcar will boost the economy and the quality of life in Tucson. Construction of the streetcar line and related long-term jobs, such as new businesses, are expected to generate 1,650 related jobs, he said. Shellie Ginn, project manager for the modern streetcar, said that property values along the route could increase as high as 30 percent. More than the 125,000 people who work, live and reside along the route will benefit from it.
“Downtown just in the past year has become much more alive,” said Gene Caywood, the president and CEO of Old Pueblo Trolley. “More people are going there so there will be more businesses, it’s a snowball effect.”
Some citizens are concerned that this project is costly and will not benefit most Tucsonans.
“These electric cars will be serving a very small percent of the population—irrelevant,” said Keith VanHeyningen, a 47-year-old Tucson resident.
But Ginn predicts the average opening year ridership for the modern streetcar to be 3,600 people boarding daily.
According to the city council, 68.5 percent of the costs will be paid from federal funds and 31.5 percent will be paid by local sources. The budget includes $63 million in federal grant money. Before the streetcar lines are built, a bridge will be built at Cushing Street over the Santa Cruz River and all other construction including waterlines, transmission mains and concrete replacements must be completed. The Tucson modern streetcar project continues to work closely with the Federal Transit Administration as the project enters the construction phase.
Britton Dornquast, program manager for the Regional Transportation Authority’s MainStreet Business Assistance program, explained that all infrastructures of the streetcar had to be updated throughout the entire route before more visible changes of construction could begin, but the project should be completed no later than early 2013. The tracks and the first vehicle will be delivered in 2012 and will require safety testing before it will up and running.
Construction has begun on the modern streetcar line that city officials say will help urbanize Tucson.