It’s just a matter of time before Manteca’s $7.3 million transit station is completed.

Workers are preparing the clock tower for placement of time faces on the station at South Main Street and Moffat Boulevard that can be seen at a distance in all four directions.

The transit station will also include a number of other firsts for Manteca.

• It is the first public building that will have a solar system integrated into its design. The solar system is going on top of carports that will also provide shade over 51 of the 108 parking spaces.

• It will have the first Manteca public charging stations for electric cars.

• It was intentionally designed to create a focal point using plenty of brick and windows to produced a Grand Central Station feel.

• It will have the City of Manteca’s first flag [pule to accommodate a garrison style American flag.

• It is the first effort to create a building designed for extensive community use inside and out.

The 7,000-square-foot building is targeted for completion in May.

Essentially it is more than just a transit station to tie in city and regional bus services, taxis, and potential Altamont Commuter Express rail service when the commuter line is extended into Modesto. It is designed as a downtown gathering place and focal point complete with indoor meeting/banquet rooms and an outdoor plaza.

The design is about more than just pleasing the eye.

• The higher pitched ceiling in the community room has been designed with dropped “clouds” consisting of acoustical panels to soften noise.

• The materials used - such as wainscoting on the walls in the lobby and the community room - are designed to reduce maintenance costs.

• The design has been modified so if one person is on staff in the building at the ticket window that they have a clear visual line to the community room entrances.

The restrooms accessible to the public and the community room address a common complaint women have - not enough toilets. The women’s bathroom has eight toilets while the men’s side has two toilets and a pair of urinals.



To contact Dennis Wyatt, e-mail dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com