Approved Projects

Simulation of the New Transbay Terminal
In early August, 2005, AC Transit working with our partners at the Transbay Joint Powers Authority and their consultants, operated a one-hour transit schedule (about 145 departures in one hour) in a simulated layout of the new Transbay Terminal.

We did this with real buses, real drivers, and with written detailed schedules, using the actual dimensions of the proposed facility. We used the Alameda Naval Air Station as a test site.

The objective was to ensure that the Transbay layout is adequate in its operational aspects, including turning radius, berthing capacity, and roadway design.

The Terminal passed with flying colors.

You will note that there are 30 bus bays, 15 on each side of a center platform. The terminal is 155 feet wide and about 1300 feet long — and the bus operating area on each side of the platform is about 53 feet wide.

You can see that the bus bays are angled in a sawtooth arrangement. This allows each bus to berth closer to the curb. AC Transit staff was also pleased that the new terminal allows buses to continually circulate without congestion, and that buses were able to dwell outside an occupied stop, and other buses were still able to pass. There was little conflict between arriving and departing buses.

As part of the test, we were able to get valuable input from drivers and AC supervisors, and will use their thoughts to make the bus operation even better.

Please wait a moment while the video loads