Photo via DDOT.

The D.C. Streetcar is nearing a new phase of testing. And while there’s no date set for passenger service, officials say they are looking toward summer.

Thomas Perry, DDOT project manager for the Streetcar, said they are currently in the “functional acceptance testing” stage, “which verifies that what we designed and what we built matches up, and also that the cars work with the actual system.” Perry said they are “nearing the end of that phase” and “gearing up” to enter “systems integration testing.” The first kind of testing deals with construction, the latter operations.

Again, if you’re looking for an exact date for passenger service, you won’t find one here.

“I hate to be vague,” Perry said. “We’re definitely looking toward the summer, but I really can’t give dates” because they’re in the interim process of correcting areas identified during functional testing. “We’re trying to make sure the system’s safe,” he said.

After systems integration testing is done, the Streetcar will move to the State Safety Oversight Agency certification process and then passenger service can begin after 30 days.

Thus far, there haven’t been issues between pedestrians, cars and the streetcar. But, Perry says, they’ve had the “benefit” of having pacer cars provide protection. “In systems integration, you’ll essentially have the car running by itself without traffic control operation, traffic control officers or having the pacer cars,” he said.

“We’ve got some bumps and bruises along the way, but we’re getting that much closer.”