SunLine Transit Agency invites the community to be part of its new SunLine: Rides Reimagined initiative, with the goal of reimagining the future of public transit in Greater Palm Springs.
The purpose is to gain a deeper understanding of how residents use – and want to use – public transportation throughout the region. As part of this comprehensive review, the Agency will evaluate its fixed-route bus system, its rideshare program known as SunRide, its SunDial paratransit service and other mobility options to ensure future services are aligned with the community’s evolving transportation needs.
The project is in its early stages, and to get it started, SunLine is seeking the public’s ideas by completing a short survey to help shape the direction of transit in the region. Whether someone rides daily, occasionally, rarely or not at all, the Agency emphasizes that every voice matters.
SunLine: Rides Reimagined will identify transit user needs, enhance frequency and availability of routes, and plan future services that better meet the community’s expectations.
Sunline Transit Agency CEO/General Manager, Mona Babauta.
“SunLine: Rides Reimagined will allow us to identify transit needs and plan for future mobility options that better meet the expectations of the community,” said Mona Babauta, CEO/General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. “We want to listen to our community, walk with them through this process, and design a system that truly reflects their needs. Public engagement is essential; it will directly influence the outcomes of this initiative.”
SunLine: Rides Reimagined Phases
SunLine: Rides Reimagined will unfold in four major phases over the next year. The first phase, taking place in this month through February 2026, focuses on planning and initiating community engagement. During this period, SunLine will be implementing its comprehensive community outreach plan and conducting early community surveys to gather initial input about transit use and needs.
Beginning in March 2026, the Agency will host a series of stakeholder and community partner focus groups, as well as virtual community workshops, and working sessions with community-based organizations to facilitate purposeful conversations with diverse groups. This phase will also include six mobile pop-up events throughout the Coachella Valley, supplemented by additional pop-ups conducted by SunLine’s marketing team to ensure broad geographic reach.
Next, SunLine will be developing draft service recommendations during April and May 2026, refining these proposals based on feedback gathered during the earlier outreach efforts. This stage will help shape the outline of potential service improvements or redesigns.
The final phase is scheduled for October and November 2026, when SunLine will release the complete SunLine: Rides Reimagined report and present its recommended system improvements through the community feedback it has garnered over the year. During this period, the community will again have opportunities to review information and provide final input before any proposed updates move forward.
Every Voice Matters
SunLine encourages residents, commuters, students, seniors and workers across the region to participate.
“The future of SunLine is being shaped now, and we want to build it together,” Babauta said. “This process helps ensure that the mobility network we create supports a thriving, well-connected Coachella Valley.”
Residents can take the survey at: SunLine.org/survey
The survey takes only a few minutes to complete, and participants will be entered for a chance to win a $100 or $50 gift card. The survey will remain open through February 28, 2026.
SunLine provides public transit services in California’s Coachella Valley spanning 1,120 mile-service area and carrying approximately 3 million riders. It has pioneered zero-emission bus deployments, particularly for hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEB). In 1993, SunLine’s Board adopted a voluntary policy of pursuing alternative fuel solutions that provide the lowest possible emissions, which led to SunLine becoming the first transit agency in the state to convert its entire fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG). SunLine is committed to transitioning its entire bus fleet to zero-emission by 2035. To learn more about SunLine Transit Agency’s services and policies, visit SunLine.org.
