SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Transit/Transportation News - Page 144

AndrewK · #**2861** Posted **Jun 5, 2022, 3:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

^ Still not really sold on driverless vehicle tech. Will need more real world data. Hopefully no accidents.

There’s plenty of data on how bad humans are at driving cars, they can’t be worse driving themselves.

jmecklenborg · #**2862** Posted **Jun 5, 2022, 6:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

^ Still not really sold on driverless vehicle tech. Will need more real world data. Hopefully no accidents.

The sensors that are critical to the operation of driverless vehicles don't work in even mild rainfall, let alone severe weather.

You have to wonder why driverless cars and trucks are being researched and tested at all when they aren't going to be able to function 10-20% of the time and that down time will be completely unpredictable.

jmecklenborg · #**2863** Posted **Jun 5, 2022, 6:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewK

There’s plenty of data on how bad humans are at driving cars, they can’t be worse driving themselves.

Except people won't accept any accidents from driverless cars.

202_Cyclist · #**2864** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 2:20 PM**

Valley Link in running for $450 million of Biden infrastructure funds

By Aaron Leathley
Stockton Record
June 4, 2022

"A commuter train project that would connect the San Joaquin Valley to the East Bay is in the running to receive about $450 million from President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill, the Tri-Valley San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority announced this week.

The project — called Valley Link — aims to unclog the I-580/Altamont Corridor, according to a Rail Authority brief. It also aims to improve air quality by allowing commuters an alternative to driving, according to Wil Ridder, deputy director of the rail authority.

Valley Link would include seven stations stretching 42 miles east from the Bay Area, starting at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and ending in north Lathrop..."

https://www.recordnet.com/story/business...ure-funds-san-joaquin-valley/7505530001/

ardecila · #**2865** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

Agreed. Would've like a brighter, cleaner, more polished appearance, but I believe the bare walls are intentional as a design element.

http://designbythebay.com/central-subway-union-square-market-street-station-ums/

This is insane. $1.5 billion for this subway and they can't even afford real walls?

It would be one thing if they were doing this subway on the cheap, but with the pricetag as high as it was, this is an embarrassment.

tech12 · #**2866** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

This is insane. $1.5 billion for this subway and they can't even afford real walls?

It would be one thing if they were doing this subway on the cheap, but with the pricetag as high as it was, this is an embarrassment.

lol I think you might be overreacting a little.

38 Geary · #**2867** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

This is insane. $1.5 billion for this subway and they can't even afford real walls?

It would be one thing if they were doing this subway on the cheap, but with the pricetag as high as it was, this is an embarrassment.

It's not that they couldn't afford it. This was a design choice. Not a great one, certainly, but I don't think cost savings was the main driver here.

Check out the Chinatown station if you want to see where they got their money's worth.

38 Geary · #**2868** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

Some Central Subway updated photos:

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2021/11/29/san-francisco-central-subway-project.html
https://www.rtands.com/passenger/sfmta-central-subway-revenue-service-update/

See above, @ardecila.

38 Geary · #**2869** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 4:01 PM**

More photos here:
http://www.meridianprecast.com/central-subway-chinatown-station/

OhioGuy · #**2870** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 5:06 PM**

Looks good, though it's still disappointing this doesn't at least extend to North Beach. Yes it may eventually happen, but a North Beach station should have been included in this initial construction, especially since the tunnel extends to around Washington Square anyway.

Nouvellecosse · #**2871** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 5:27 PM**

The bare concrete looks good right now imo but exposed concrete doesn't tend to age well. Although maybe these will be an exception since building techniques do tend to improve over time.

The station with all the white gives a Crossrail vibe which is nice.

jmecklenborg · #**2872** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 5:58 PM**

I like the green tile.

38 Geary · #**2873** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 6:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

I like the green tile.

Agreed. The jade-like color choices of the glass fiber reinforced concrete tiles have a nice, calming, earthy appearance. A nice nod to the Chinatown heritage.

http://www.meridianprecast.com/central-subway-chinatown-station/

38 Geary · #**2874** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 6:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

The station with all the white gives a Crossrail vibe which is nice.

Yup, that came to my mind as well. Definitely a nice design touch that gives it a bright, airy, modern feel.

According to the company that supplied the materials, they used white perforated Swisspearl fiber reinforced cementitious panels. Apparently the perforations help with absorbing sound in the tunnel, so it's nice that it has both an aesthetic and functional purpose.

38 Geary · #**2875** Posted **Jun 6, 2022, 9:10 PM**

Haven't seen many shots of the Yerba Buena/Moscone station, but I did some Googling and found some older pics that I don't think anyone has posted here before.

The concourse

Granite etchings of photographs by artist Catherine Wagner

Lots of natural light and exposed concrete from the skylights for the entrance underground

https://www.sfmta.com/blog/central-subway-slowed-covid-19-still-making-progress
https://twitter.com/SFMTA_Muni/status/1406676924554899456?s=20&t=p4jWCLiHs0xckacMxPrqYw

38 Geary · #**2876** Posted **Jul 8, 2022, 4:34 PM**

Nice overhead shot of the Van Ness BRT line where it intersects with Market Street, which runs on top of 4 BART lines and 5 Muni Metro lines, along with 1 surface streetcar line:

https://sfyimby.com/2022/07/crane-sectio...at-30-van-ness-avenue-san-francisco.html

TowerDude · #**2877** Posted **Jul 8, 2022, 10:27 PM**

Any news about connecting the Transbay/Salesforce Terminal into the California High Speed Rail system?

MAC123 · #**2878** Posted **Jul 8, 2022, 10:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TowerDude

Any news about connecting the Transbay/Salesforce Terminal into the California High Speed Rail system?

What do you mean any news?
The Terminal is designed to connect with Caltrain and by extension CHSR. What else is there to talk about?
CHSR just got the money to finish the central valley portion, plus a little bit more. The San Jose connection is probably next but nothing is started.

TWAK · #**2879** Posted **Jul 8, 2022, 11:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebucket

Nice overhead shot of the Van Ness BRT line where it intersects with Market Street, which runs on top of 4 BART lines and 5 Muni Metro lines, along with 1 surface streetcar line:

https://sfyimby.com/2022/07/crane-sectio...at-30-van-ness-avenue-san-francisco.html

Lookin' like a photo from Cities: Skylines (with some touch-up).

TowerDude · #**2880** Posted **Jul 9, 2022, 1:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC123

What do you mean any news?
The Terminal is designed to connect with Caltrain and by extension CHSR. What else is there to talk about?
CHSR just got the money to finish the central valley portion, plus a little bit more. The San Jose connection is probably next but nothing is started.

I heard that the last part between Caltrain Terminal and Transbay Terminal wasn't finalized yet. (Blue on this map)