Line Changes Possibly Coming to SunLine

THOUSAND PALMS, CA - The SunLine Transit Agency Board of Directors will meet Wednesday to discuss a proposed operating plan that could include numerous changes to its service lines throughout the Coachella Valley.

Proposed route changes included in the Short Range Transit Plan, if approved by the SunLine board and he Riverside County Transportation Commission, would increase bus frequency along some routes while eliminating sections of others.

In Palm Springs, Line 24 would no longer head east/west on Vista Chino. Instead, it would continue northbound on Sunrise Way unabated to accommodate school students along that route, according to an STA staff report. The line would also be extended to include retail areas along Ramon Road and San Luis Rey Drive, and the loop at Palm Springs International Airport canceled. The airport would be reached on Line 30 instead at Tahquitz Canyon Way and El Cielo Road.

In Coachella, a new route, Line 92, would be introduced, providing circular service in the city and replacing Line 90.

Line 95 would end at Fifth Street and Vine Avenue and connect with existing Line 111, which would be realigned to service current Line 95 areas such as Airport Boulevard east of State Route 86, which include the College of the Desert's Mecca/Thermal campus.

Lines 80 and 81 in Indio would see service frequency increases -- going from rides every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes -- though those improvements are conditional pending additional funding, according to the staff report.

In Palm Desert, Line 53 would no longer serve areas heading south on San Pablo Avenue like the Joslyn Center or areas north of Gerald Ford Drive along Cook Street, such as Xavier College Preparatory High School. The proposed new route would head west on Gerald Ford Drive rather than continuing north on Cook Street, serving the areas along Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive such as the Walmart Supercenter.

Line 70, which currently terminates at its north end at Country Club Drive, would be extended north of Interstate 10, and service frequency would be increased to every 40 minutes on weekdays and every 60 minutes on weekends.

The proposed operating budget, projected to grow from $30.8 million to $33.5 million in the 2016-17 fiscal year, would supplement increases in wages, benefit costs and other operating expenses, according to the STA.

The agency also plans to purchase a number of vehicles and facilities under the plan, including a hydrogen fueling station, 15 vans and two buses, make facility improvements to properties in Thousand Palms and Indio and replace its operations facility.

– By City News Service.