7. A Regional Transit Terminal
The existing Transbay Transit Terminal is a facility which affords direct connections to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and has the potential of providing a relatively economical connection to the James Lick freeway to the south. It has the advantage of off-street connections between the freeway and the terminal, which is convenient for the transit rider and a definite benefit to the city through reduction of traffic congestion on city streets. A new facility serving all transit agencies and long-haul buses would serve as a convenient transfer point. At the present time, approximately 350 transfers are made on a weekday between the various terminals in San Francisco. The convenience represented by a central terminal would result in increased transit ridership, thus easing congestion problems. The terminal would serve as a central point where one could board a bus to a destination within the city, region, or state.
At peak hour it would provide an off-street loading facility for approximately 630 buses. This would contribute to reduction of traffic congestion on city streets in the area. Buses serving the East Bay and the the Peninsula would have a direct connectoion the bridge and to the freeways. In addition, all transit operators would have the advantage of storage of buses on the loop structure just before peak hour. This would further reduce congestion on city streets.
Location
The terminal is located in the southern portion of the central business district. It fronts on Mission Street, between First and Fremont Streets. This location is within convenient walking distance of the major portion of the central business district. A recent survey of transit passengers indicates that 88 percent of all transit destinations in Francisco are within the central business district, with 75.3 percent of all the destinations in MTC Zones No. 2 and No. 39 (see figures 9 and 10). The terminal is located in zone No. 39, and Zone No. 2 is one block away across Market Street. The existing terminal is within easy walking distance of center of gravity of all transit trips made he central business district.
This is the logical point at which to terminate the Golden Gate Transit route through the financial district. It affords a convenient storage point for Golden Gate Transit buses prior to peak hour in the afternoon. A connecting loop to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge already exists at this location, and access to the James Lick Freeway could provide an economical connection. This location has the best potential for connecting links to the freeways.
By utilizing the existing site, a centralized terminal could be provided without creating a severe impact on land-use within the City of San Francisco. This would not be true of any other site. Further, the existing site would cause less disruption to the community than if a central terminal were to be built at another location.
Impact
At the present time Golden Gate Transit, Amtrak, and Continental Trailways load passengers at street level. A new central terminal would provide off-street facilities which would reduce bus traffic at street level in the area and eliminate the crowded loading conditions adjacent to the terminal. Storage on the loop prior to the peak hour, will result in better service to the commuter. The ease with which transfers between transit agencies could be made would induce additional transit ridership.
This facility will upgrade commuter and long-haul bus facilities in San Francisco and provide an attractive terminal for the potential transit rider.