Features

Beginning next month, San Francisco's transit hub will move from the existing Transbay Terminal at Mission and First streets to a temporary terminal at Howard and Main streets.  

The move, effective Aug. 7, allows work to begin on a new, $4 billion Transbay Transit Center at the site of the existing terminal. Completion of the 1 million-square-foot terminal is expected in 2017.  

An open house for the temporary terminal will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 3, said Courtney Lodato, spokeswoman for Transbay Joint Powers Authority. Transit officials will be available to assist riders at the current terminal the week before its closure, and also at the temporary terminal for the first week it's open.  

The temporary terminal will have 24-hour security. There are no public restrooms.  

The temporary terminal will serve AC Transit, Greyhound and West CAT Lynk on the inside of the terminal. Muni, Golden Gate Transit and SamTrans will be accommodated around the perimeter of the open-air facility.  

Payment will continue to be accepted on board the buses, Lodato said.  

Riders must enter the temporary terminal from Main Street during the first two months of operation while construction crews demolish an elevated bus ramp to build the last corner of the terminal, Lodato said. Bus stops will change in November once upgrades are complete.  

Transit riders should visit temporaryterminal.org for more information and for construction updates.  

"We're encouraging people to plan ahead and learn about it," Lodato said.  

San Francisco voters approved Measure G last month, affirming city policy to locate the northern terminus of the planned San Francisco-to-Los Angeles high-speed rail line at the Transbay Transit Center.  

More information on the new transit center is available at transbaycenter.org.