[BTinSF]

Some news in today's Business Times "Structures" supplement (which they have not, so far, put online):

- Concerning the essential upzoning of the private parcels including the Piano tower at 1st & Mission: "The (Planning) department hopes to choose a consultant in July to study the private parcvels around the pterminal and the area around the CalTrain Station. A study is expected to take 6 months with a final environmental review anticipated in the spring of 2009 . . . . It's very important to the city . . . it's our chance to make sure downtown is anchored at this important transit hub."

- Concerning the TransBay Terminal itself: "The project is now expected to be built in two phases. The first includes the new terminal to integrate regional buses with BART and Muni, and the design of the CalTrain rail compenent of the terminal. That $983M project is fully funded, and work on a temporary terminal is expected to start in the summer of 2008 with contruction of the permanent terminal to start in 2009 and be completed in 2014. Phase 2, when funding becomes available (BT note--presumeably from sale of development rights for the tower in part), will extend CalTrain from 4th & King streets to the terminal, and will accomodate future high-speed intercity rail from Los Angeles. This phase is estimated to cost $2.38B, of which $521M is committed so far, and be completed by 2018.