Construction began this week on a new transit center on the south side of Haring Hall across from the Silo. Buses are not stopping at the Silo while work goes on; completion is expected before the fall quarter.

Unitrans riders are advised to use the bus stops to the west at the Life Sciences Building or to the east at Shields Library and the Art Building.

Unitrans also advises:

• J line departs from Shields outbound and ends at Chem 194 inbound.
• W line outbound starts at the Art Building (the W stop is behind the A and L stops).
• A line inbound ends at Shields.
• C, D and J lines inbound drop off at Chem 194.

The medical center shuttle bus stop at Haring Hall has been relocated one block to the west, on Hutchison Drive next to the Life Sciences Building.

The new transit center will occupy what is now parking Lot 29. The project includes shelters and concrete pads where people can wait for buses, instead of standing in the rain and mud. Also, a sidewalk will be built on the north side of Hutchison to connect the Life Sciences Building and California Avenue.

Westbound buses will make pickups and drop-offs along Hutchison, while eastbound buses will use the an off-street staging area. This will free space on Hutchison for bicyclists. Also, buses that are laying over in between runs will park in the staging area.

Campus officials said the landscaping plan for the new terminal includes new shade trees to replace Chinese hackberrys that were taken out because they showed signs of decline and were not expected to remain healthy in the long term.

— Dave Jones