[IMAGE]Transbay-Transit-Center-full.jpg[/IMAGE]San Francisco's Transbay Joint Powers Authority broke ground Wednesday on the new Transbay Transit Center Program, a multi-modal transportation center touted as a “Grand Central of the West.”

The ceremony launched the first step of the project -- construction of a temporary facility that will serve bus passengers while the new center is under construction.

The Transbay Transit Center Program will replace the current Transbay Terminal with a new, multi-modal transportation center and centralize the region’s transportation network by accommodating nine transportation systems under one roof.

In addition to replacing the outdated Transbay Terminal with a modern transit  hub, the project plan includes extending the Caltrain rail line 1.3 miles into the heart of the Financial District and redeveloping the area surrounding the center with 2,600 new homes (35 percent affordable), parks and a retail main street.

"The Transbay Transit Center Program is a critical part of San Francisco’s transit-first policy, and with today’s groundbreaking, we are one step closer to creating a truly sustainable City where our public transportation system works seamlessly to enhance the quality of life and economic health for San Franciscans," said Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Once completed in 2014, the Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed center will serve more than 100,000 people per day through nine transportation systems including AC Transit, Caltrain, MUNI, Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans, Greyhound, BART, WestCAT and the future California High-Speed Rail.

The center, which will have a LEED Silver rating, was designed to embrace the goals of green architecture and project an image of sustainability.  The heart of the Transit Center is “City Park,” a 5.4-acre public park that will sit atop the facility and feature a living green roof.

Costs for the Transbay Transit Center and Caltrain Downtown Rail extension Program — funded through local, regional, state and federal sources — are estimated at $4.185 billion, escalated to the year of expenditure (YOE).

For more information about the project, visit www.transbaycenter.org