Oklahoma City is preparing to solicit bids from streetcar manufacturers for its proposed $130 million initial streetcar line.
The City Council voted Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, to begin the bidding process to obtain five dual-power streetcars, though the initial line is expected to include overhead wire as the power source for operations.
Last September the city approved the streetcar plan as part of its larger MAPS 3 development project. Estimates call for the line to begin revenue service in 2017.
Local media report the Request for Proposals (RFP) allows manufacturers room to vary vehicle length, but imposes height requirements to address low bridge clearances along the proposed route.
City engineers expect up to 10 responses from streetcar manufacturers. Likely parties include Alstom, Bombardier, Brookville Equipment Co., CAF USA, Kinkisharyo International, Siemens, and United Streetcar, LLC, all of whom have a U.S. track record providing light rail vehicles (LRVs) and/or streetcars to North American transit properties.