Tucson ― Trolley Closes for Streetcar Construction

Rail Transit Online, October 2011

Preliminary construction on the Tucson modern streetcar will begin in early November, forcing the historic Old Pueblo Trolley to shut down until late 2013.

The heritage trolleys will provide rides during five weekends in October; Friday evenings, Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Initially, a new and improved drainage system will be installed on 7th Street and 8th street, requiring removal of Old Pueblo's existing track and overhead wiring. This will be followed by replacement of the single track on 4th Avenue and University Boulevard with new double track and catenary. Once the new line opens, the historic cars will operate on weekends interspersed with the modern fleet that's been ordered from United Streetcar.

The 3.6-mi. (5.8 km) new line will connect the University Medical Center, the University of Arizona campus, downtown and the Rio Nuevo cultural center. The all-volunteer Old Pueblo Trolley began service more than 18 years ago and now runs along 4th Avenue and University Boulevard. The non-profit organization owns two operational cars, originally from Belgium and Japan, a Los Angeles Railways car now undergoing restoration and a Toronto PCC.

www.oldpueblotrolley.org
www.tucsonstreetcar.com/index.htm