Transbay Terminal Alternatives Analysis
Assessment of intermodal transit center alternatives in San Francisco

The Transbay Terminal is an elevated terminal that has served as San Francisco 's hub of bus transit services for over 50 years. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the regional agency in charge of transportation planning in the nine-county Bay Area, commissioned an improvement alternatives analysis to accommodate long-term transit needs and improve the passenger experience for bus riders. Four alternative options were developed and analyzed, including a retrofit option, a new two-level bus terminal, and two variations on the existing terminal.

The study included components of both technical analysis and consensus building. Key stakeholders included major transit operators, MTC, Caltrans, the City of San Francisco , and current Transbay Terminal tenants. A detailed traffic and transit operations analysis was conducted through the use of the VISSIM micro-simulation software, to allow for visualization of capacity constraints and scheduling conflicts.

Conclusion: Microsimulation results revealed that changes in services, scheduling, and stop locations could enhance bus operations in several of the redevelopment options. These results were a key tool in explaining the options to decision-makers and allowing for an informed discussion of alternatives.