On Oct. 15, the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) celebrated the grand opening of its new, $51.1 million Regional Transportation Center (RTC). The RTC will dramatically improve transit in San Joaquin County by consolidating RTD’s operations and maintenance functions. It replaces an aging, overcrowded facility originally designed for a fleet of only 50 buses, less than half of RTD’s current fleet.
“RTD continues to plan for the future of regional transportation by making strategic investments today,” said Donna DeMartino, general manager/CEO of San Joaquin RTD. “With modern features throughout and lots of room to grow, the RTC will provide the necessary capacity to meet San Joaquin County’s growing transit service needs.”
The RTC provides over 136,000 square feet of building space on a 10-acre lot. It is equipped with digital camera security systems, proximity badge access controls, computerized lighting and air conditioning, and networked monitoring systems, including fuel and fluid monitoring systems for bus maintenance operations.
The RTC also incorporates design elements that honor RTD’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Not only will consolidated facility functions reduce trip times and emissions, LED lighting in the RTC shop will reduce electrical use. Moreover, by incorporating swales to recharge groundwater and by recapturing, recycling, and reusing 97% of the water used by the bus wash station, RTD is doing its part to conserve water during this drought.
Completed under budget and three months early, the RTC is creating over 900 direct and indirect jobs. Lead contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. used a design-build project delivery method and embraced RTD’ s mission to employ and subcontract to regional businesses and residents of San Joaquin County.
The construction of the RTC was funded by $17 million in federal funding, over $11 million in State Prop 1B funding, and over $22 million in local funding, including $16 million in Measure K funds. Operations at the RTC are scheduled to begin in November.
