Construction of the future Streetcar system’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) has gone vertical. Steel beams are going up on the facility, which will be located on part of Lot A south of the CHI Health Center Omaha and west of the Kiewit Luminarium.
The VMF serves several functions at once with the most two important being a place for streetcar operators to report and to maintain the streetcar vehicles. The VMF will be where streetcar operators start and end their day and serve an essential safety role of making sure that operators are fit for duty. The supervisors (of which there should always be one on duty at all times) will also report here and keep the system under control through a mobile device that tracks the system. There will also be offices for the streetcar managers, all positions that will be under the private operations contractor. The vehicle maintenance will include bays and overhead areas for maintaining the equipment on the streetcar to keep them in good working order – space for light maintenance to complete any necessary repairs. In conjunction with this will be parts storage and training areas for mechanics as well as operators. Finally, the VMF will also include a place to wash the streetcar vehicles and store them when not in use.
Photo by Brad Williams
