Thousand Palms, CA

SunLine Transit Agency has launched a new project called SunLine: Rides Reimagined, a yearlong effort to learn how people in the Coachella Valley use public transportation and how it can be improved in the future.

The goal of the project is simple: listen to the community and use that feedback to make public transit work better for everyone. SunLine will review its regular bus routes, its on-demand rideshare service SunRide, its SunDial paratransit service, and other transportation options to see what is working and what needs to change.

To get started, SunLine is asking residents to share their thoughts by taking a short online survey. The agency says input is important whether someone rides the bus every day, once in a while, or not at all.

“SunLine: Rides Reimagined will help us understand what our community really needs and expects from public transit,” said Mona Babauta, CEO and General Manager of SunLine Transit Agency. “We want to hear directly from the people we serve and build a system that better fits their lives.”

The project will happen in four main phases over the next year. The first phase runs through February 2026 and focuses on planning and collecting early feedback through surveys and community outreach.

Starting in March 2026, SunLine will hold community meetings, virtual workshops, and small group discussions with local organizations. The agency also plans to host several pop-up events around the Coachella Valley to reach people in different neighborhoods.

In April and May 2026, SunLine will use all the feedback it has gathered to create draft ideas for improving or changing transit services. These ideas will be reviewed and adjusted based on what the community has shared.

The final phase will take place in October and November 2026, when SunLine will release a full report with its recommendations. Residents will have another chance to review the plans and offer comments before any changes are made.

SunLine encourages everyone to participate, including residents, workers, students, and seniors. The survey is available at SunLine.org/survey and takes only a few minutes to complete. The survey will stay open through February 28, 2026, and participants will be entered for a chance to win a $100 or $50 gift card.

SunLine Transit Agency provides public transportation across much of the Coachella Valley, serving about 3 million riders each year. The agency is also known for leading the way in cleaner transit and plans to move to a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.

More information about SunLine and the Rides Reimagined project can be found at SunLine.org.