By Jonathan Hernandez Morales | Arizona Republic
Riders looking to hop on the streetcar in downtown Tempe will have to wait a bit longer as impacts of COVID-19 on the manufacturing industry delay the opening.
The streetcar was expected to open by the end of the year but Valley Metro officials now say it will begin operating next spring.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to factory closures, supply chain interruptions and other issues at Brookville Equipment Corp., the Pennsylvania company manufacturing the streetcar, Valley Metro spokesperson Hillary Foose said.
Valley Metro has received three of six streetcars that will run on a 3-mile route through downtown Tempe, Arizona State University and surrounding neighborhoods.