SunLine outlines $4.5 million vision for downtown Cathedral City transit hub

SunLine Transit Agency officials presented a conceptual plan on Jan. 22 for a transit hub at B Street and Buddy Rogers in downtown Cathedral City, describing facility features, an early cost estimate and potential funding approaches.

Paul Mattern, chief planning officer of SunLine Transit Agency, said SunLine “sees this stop as... our hub in the Western Valley” and described a conceptual footprint roughly 90 feet deep by 300 feet long adjacent to the existing stops. Mattern said the design would include six bus bays (three inside and three outside), a driver comfort building, solar‑covered shade structures and passenger amenities intended to support transfers and stimulate nearby retail and housing development.

The presentation matters because SunLine framed the site as part of its long‑range system of distributed hubs and as a potential anchor for mixed‑use, pedestrian‑oriented development that complements Cathedral City’s general plan. Mattern said the hub could help connect the city to regional destinations, including an eventual airport shuttle or rail connections.

Luis Garcia, SunLine’s chief financial officer, gave an initial cost estimate and funding overview. Garcia said very early estimates for the hub are “probably 4 and a half $1,000,000,” and emphasized that the final cost will depend on scope, timing and whether housing is incorporated. He listed multiple competitive grant sources SunLine has pursued before and said some grants (for example the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program) require an affordable‑housing component to be eligible. Garcia said land arrangements could take several forms — a long‑term ground lease with the city (as used in Coachella), a purchase, a donation or other partnership arrangements — and that specific funding decisions will depend on a jointly developed vision for the site.

Council members pressed SunLine on site control, land area and public‑space management. Council member Gutierrez and others discussed the footprint: SunLine’s sketch uses roughly 90 by 300 feet (Mattern estimated about 27,000 square feet, roughly 1.25 acres). City manager Charlie (first name used in the meeting) and staff noted the city general fund and the city housing fund each currently own parts of the parcel, and suggested portions of city‑owned land could be used as a grant match if a housing component were included.

Council members also asked how the site would be managed if people experiencing homelessness used the new facility. Mattern said the location “certainly would be public” and described coordination with local service providers such as the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and with local law enforcement to connect people to resources and enforce local ordinances as needed. Mattern added SunLine would invest in lighting and regular cleaning and could use contractors for maintenance.

On operations and timeline, Mattern and Garcia said the agency could prioritize the project in its capital budget process. If the SunLine board approves the project and funding is secured, SunLine expects to hire a design and engineering firm about a year from now, with design taking six to eight months and construction about a year, giving a target of roughly two to 2.5 years before a new facility could open if funding and approvals align.

The presentation included questions about fueling and shared infrastructure. SunLine officials confirmed the proposed Cathedral City site would not be a bus refueling or maintenance depot; it would be a passenger‑facing transit center. In related discussion, SunLine staff updated the council on an existing hydrogen refueling facility the agency operates: the station already fuels buses on its internal site but state certification for 700‑bar public dispensers is still pending. Walter (chief of capital projects for SunLine) said he expects state high‑pressure testing and certification for public hydrogen dispensers within about two months, and that when certified the public dispensers would be self‑serve.

City council members expressed broad interest in coordinating land use and development plans with SunLine. Council member Greg Ray and others urged early collaboration so that a developer does not commit the entire parcel in a way that precludes a transit hub. Mattern and Garcia said they want to continue working with Cathedral City on a shared vision and will pursue grant opportunities and board approval before advancing design.

SunLine’s presentation materials and the council discussion raised next steps rather than final commitments: the agency requested direction and continued conversations, not formal city action. City staff and council asked staff to evaluate land availability, the potential impact on planned downtown parcels (including a 13.5‑acre parcel east of the site) and the possible use of city land as grant match if a housing component is proposed. SunLine said it would return with additional detail as it develops funding strategy and board priorities.

Ending: SunLine left the meeting with staff and council members agreeing to continue conversation and to examine land‑use and funding options; no formal council action or vote on the project was taken at the Jan. 22 study session.