Transbay Terminal (temporary)

Transbay Terminal (temporary)
Name	Transbay Terminal (temporary)
Caption	Temporary terminal serving San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center project
Location	San Francisco, California, United States
Opened	2010
Closed	2018
Owner	City and County of San Francisco
Operator	San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Type	Bus terminal
Platforms	multiple bus bays

Transbay Terminal (temporary) was an interim bus and coach terminal in San Francisco established to maintain regional public transit connections while the permanent Transbay Transit Center was constructed. The facility provided replacement services for cross-bay and intercity routes operated by agencies including San Francisco Municipal Railway, AC Transit, Greyhound Lines, Megabus (North America), and private operators serving Oakland, Berkeley, San Mateo County, Marin County, and San Jose. The temporary terminal functioned as a focal point for Bay Area Rapid Transit-adjacent transfers, regional rail planning, and surface transit coordination during a major infrastructure program led by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.

History

The temporary terminal emerged from a series of planning and political milestones involving the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the City and County of San Francisco, and state agencies such as the California Department of Transportation. The original Transbay Terminal (1939) had long been the nexus for intercity and transbay bus services; after seismic, capacity, and redevelopment concerns were identified in studies produced following the Loma Prieta earthquake era and subsequent regional transportation plans, stakeholders advanced a replacement project. Construction of the Transbay Transit Center required demolition of the 1939-era headhouse and a phased approach that included a temporary facility opened in the 2010s. Funding decisions were shaped by ballot measures and legislation tied to regional initiatives like Measure AA-type local measures, federal discretionary grants, and state transportation budgets influenced by the California High-Speed Rail program and intermodal priorities championed by metropolitan planning organizations such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Design and Facilities

The temporary structure emphasized modular, utilitarian design to accommodate heavy coach, commuter, and local bus volumes while meeting accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Engineering and architectural elements were coordinated with firms familiar with bus terminal typologies previously applied at facilities like Port Authority Bus Terminal-style urban interchanges and suburban intermodal hubs. Passenger amenities included sheltered waiting areas, ticketing counters for carriers such as Greyhound Lines and Megabus (North America), digital departure boards, and customer service kiosks integrated with regional fare media interoperable with systems like Clipper (transit) and municipal fare integrations used by San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Security and operations incorporated standards promulgated by agencies including Transportation Security Administration for intercity services and coordination with San Francisco Police Department for public safety.

Services and Operations

Operators running from the temporary terminal spanned municipal, regional, and private providers. AC Transit maintained transbay routes connecting Oakland and Berkeley to downtown San Francisco, while SamTrans served San Mateo County corridors. Private intercity lines such as BoltBus, Greyhound Lines, and Megabus (North America) used the facility as a point for statewide services to destinations including Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego. Local circulators like Muni surface routes and shuttle services interfaced with the terminal to provide last-mile distribution to neighborhoods such as South of Market (SoMa), Financial District, and Mission District. Operations were scheduled to minimize dwell times and maximize bay turnover, drawing on practices seen in other high-throughput terminals like Union Station (Los Angeles) and PATH transfer nodes.

Transportation Connections

The temporary terminal functioned as a multimodal nexus linking surface buses with regional rail and ferry services. Connections facilitated transfers to Bay Area Rapid Transit at proximate stations and shuttle links to Caltrain commuter rail serving San Jose Diridon; ferries at the nearby Ferry Building and terminals to Alameda and Sausalito complemented surface options. Bicycle integration reflected regional priorities championed by organizations such as San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, offering bike racks and coordination with bike-share programs like Bay Wheels. Pedestrian connectivity to districts and streets including Folsom Street, Mission Street, and Market Street was emphasized in wayfinding and transit-oriented development discussions led by entities including the San Francisco Planning Department.

Ridership and Usage

Ridership at the temporary terminal reflected both commuter patterns and intercity demand, with peak volumes during weekday morning and evening peaks and elevated weekend flows tied to intercity coach schedules and event-driven travel to venues like Moscone Center and Oracle Park. Data compiled by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority and partner operators documented tens of thousands of annual passenger movements, with modal splits influenced by employment centers in Financial District and residential concentrations in East Bay. Usage trends informed service adjustments by agencies including AC Transit and SamTrans to match capacity and scheduling, and influenced longer-term projections used in environmental reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Reconstruction and Replacement Plans

The temporary terminal existed as a stopgap while the permanent Transbay Transit Center was planned, funded, and constructed. The replacement project encompassed a new multimodal train and bus terminal designed to incorporate future Caltrain electrification, potential California High-Speed Rail service integration, and expanded bus capacity. Governance and financing involved the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, federal grant programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration, and local bond measures supported by entities such as the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Decommissioning of the temporary facility coincided with phased openings of the permanent center and ancillary developments, reshaping regional service patterns and enabling transit-oriented redevelopment in the surrounding South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood.

Category:Transportation in San Francisco Category:Bus stations in California