On Friday, Valley Metro and the City of Tempe launched their streetcar service in the East Valley and announced plans to offer rides free for the first year of service.
After four years of construction, the three-mile route is now open to shuttle riders across 14 stops and will arrive every 20 minutes. The frequency of service is expected to increase later this year with the addition of two streetcars.
Popular east valley destination stops include Tempe Beach Park, Gammage Auditorium and Arizona State University sports stadiums.
The project was funded through federal grants, Proposition 400 and Tempe transportation funds. Construction began in 2018.
The streetcar, is powered by an overhead electrification system similar to the light rail. It connects to the light rail in two locations and shares the road with vehicles.
