San Francisco, the City by the Bay, has long been a hub of innovation and sustainability. In honor of Transit Month, an annual event that celebrates the role of public transportation in our communities and the Bay Area's economic, social, and cultural vibrancy, we explore one of San Francisco's iconic destinations – the six-level four-block long multimodal Salesforce Transit Center. Owned and operated by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), this cutting-edge transportation hub not only keeps the city moving by connecting nine transit providers, it does so while harnessing the power of nature and offering a rooftop oasis for all to enjoy. 

Powered by the clean energy generated from the Hetch Hetchy Power System, the Transit Center serves as a remarkable showcase of sustainable infrastructure. One of its most striking features is the 5.4-acre rooftop park, which has transformed the concept of urban green spaces. Nestled amidst the skyscrapers of the Financial District, this green oasis offers a serene escape from the city's hustle and bustle with 600 trees and 16,000 plants arranged in 13 different botanical areas. On this rooftop park, the TJPA hosts a variety of free classes, community events, yoga classes, and live performances, making it a vibrant and inclusive part of the city's social fabric. 

“San Francisco requires reliable, secure, and sustainable transit. Connecting people to their important destinations and bringing diverse communities closer is at the heart of what we do at the Salesforce Transit Center,” said Adam Van de Water, Executive Director of TJPA.

In a world where climate change and traffic congestion are pressing issues, the TJPA’s Salesforce Transit Center is an example of how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. This LEED GOLD certified facility was built with green technology in mind. The site uses heat pump technology connected to ten miles of geothermal piping to heat the building on cool days and to cool it off on warm ones, which saves energy and reduces operating costs at the same time. Sustainable design features at the Center include extensive use of daylight through its artful design, a rain-capture graywater system, innovative elevator and escalator improvements, and many others. 

Hetch Hetchy Power supported the transit hub to achieve a design using 44% less energy than typical building standards. The Center’s annual energy savings are estimated to be around 5 million kilowatt hours (kWh), which is the same amount of energy generated as an 18-acre solar farm. (Imagine the rooftop park covered in solar arrays three times). 

So, as we celebrate Transit Month in San Francisco, let's take a moment to appreciate TJPA’s Salesforce Transit Center. This innovative Center helps highlight the vital link between embracing public transit and fostering a more sustainable future. The SFPUC is proud to help power a transit hub that contributes significantly to the reduction of single-occupancy, gas-powered vehicles – a major source of emissions in our city. Strengthening our public transit systems is just as crucial as advancing clean energy solutions, and together, the SFPUC and TJPA are paving the way for a greener, zero-emission future.