“Final rail” laid for Tucson streetcar

Construction crews laid down the final link of rail Thursday, July 25, 2013, for the streetcar line in Tucson, Ariz.

Construction began in March 2012 on the 3.9-mile line, with a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony taking place April 12, 2012. Old Pueblo Trackworks, a joint venture comprised of Granite Construction, Inc. and RailWorks Track Systems, performed the work.

Work continues on support facilities, including overhead power supply and landscaping in and around the 21 station stops planned for the line.

Revenue service, originally targeted to begin late this year, now is set for sometime in the summer of 2014, assuming Clackamas, Ore.-based United Streetcar, LLC delivers eight (originally seven) vehicles on order by that time, following delays in production.