SunLine launches 18-month engagement for transit service review; council presses on survey weighting

SunLine representatives described an 18-month comprehensive operational analysis and public-engagement plan called "SunLine Rise Reimagined" at the Indian Wells City Council meeting on Feb. 5.

Luis Garcia, chief financial officer (presenting for CEO Mona Babauta), said the process will include multiple public-engagement phases with city council meetings, community groups, online and paper surveys (English and Spanish), in-person outreach at bus stops and virtual sessions. "The initiative is known as SunLine Rise Reimagined and will span a period of about 18 months," he told the council.

Garcia outlined SunLine's service modes (fixed-route SunBus, paratransit Sundial, microtransit and commuter link) and said the system provides roughly 3 million rides annually. He said the outreach will ask where and how often transit should run and whether the system should prioritize ridership or a coverage model.

Council members pressed SunLine on survey sampling and weighting: one councilmember asked whether the responses are a random sample or self-selected. Garcia acknowledged a mix of respondents and said staff will do targeted intercepts at bus stops to broaden participation and adjust metrics accordingly: "We have a bit of a mix ... we're going out to our riders at bus stops," he said.

SunLine will provide maps and alternatives to the public as the outreach proceeds and return to the board with recommended service models for approval. Garcia highlighted incentives (gift-card drawings) and QR codes/paper surveys left at meeting entrances to boost response rates.

Council members thanked SunLine for reaching out and emphasized the city's interest in follow-up materials and clarity on how public input will be weighted in decisions about service levels.