Salesforce Transbay Terminal

Located south of Mission spanning from 2nd street to Beale is the newly opened Salesforce Transbay Terminal Station. Though the station is still a (long) work in progress it opened this month to start servicing select bus transit lines. The host's a FordGo bike rental station along with  SFMTA bike lockers which have the capacity to store 100 bikes for commuters. The terminal consists of 4 levels. The underground level will incorporate the Downtown Rail Extension that will eventually service CalTrain and the long time hyped California High Speed Rail. The ground level houses the entrances to the terminal and will host retail spaces and a ticketing area. The third level is a bus bay and will contain more retail and office space. Also on the third level, in a move that was peak transportation planning, the bus depot has a dedicated on ramp to the Bay Bridge and San Francisco highway. The fourth level is the part I am so excited about. A 5.4 acre park sits atop the terminal for the public to enjoy.

The rooftop is a “living park” that is both beautiful and environmentally beneficial. The green landscape of the park will act as an air purify which, brilliantly, will help capture and filter the exhaust being released by the buses and trains below. The park features a trail that wraps around its perimeter for those that want to walk or run. The trail is lined with vegetation from all over the state of California, from the forest of the great redwoods to the succulents of the deserts.
There is a span of water fixtures that are creatively synced to go off in time with the departing buses. There are both “active” and “quiet” spaces incorporated into the park. One end has a stage that will allow for small concerts, shows, and demonstrations. Chairs litter the grounds for those who want to sit, read, or people watch. In the middle of the park is a space to congregate ate. There is a mobile restaurant, a bar that opens at 1pm and a coffee stand. There are also changing events on premise like free morning workout classes and midday art sessions for young children. Speaking of children, there is a modern playground equipped with rubber flooring for your rugrats to reek terror on. It's a great place to take a break from the loud hustle and bustle of downtown. And for a lot of people it will introduce a much more convenient way to get in and out of the city.