Riverside Transit Agency Announces New Chair of the Board for 2026
City of Corona Councilmember Jim Steiner Unanimously Elected New Board Chair
RIVERSIDE, CA — January 26, 2026 — The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) Board of Directors has unanimously elected City of Corona Councilmember Jim Steiner to serve as its chair for 2026.
In this role, Steiner will guide the Board’s strategic direction, help establish organizational priorities, lead Board meetings and represent the Agency at public events. A board member since 2018 and board officer since 2024, Steiner steps into the role previously held by City of Riverside Councilmember Steve Hemenway.
“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Board during such an important moment for Riverside Transit Agency,” said Steiner. “This year, as we bring our first hydrogen fuel buses to the streets and transition a portion of our fixed-route services back in-house, this represents a major investment in the future of public transportation in our region. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Board members and staff as we guide RTA through this next phase of growth and service excellence.”
Under his direction, the Agency is prepared to make meaningful progress in its ongoing efforts to transform public transportation for western Riverside County. Among the Agency’s top priorities for the coming year are opening a new hydrogen fueling station at its Riverside facility and rolling out the first hydrogen fuel cell buses.
In addition to chairing the Board, Steiner also serves on RTA’s Executive Committee and is an active member of the Northwest chapter of Transportation NOW, a grassroots group that promotes public transportation. A resident of Corona for nearly 40 years, Steiner served as a member of the Corona Fire Department from 1986 when he was a Firefighter Apprentice until his retirement in 2017 as a Ladder Truck Captain.
RTA Board members also elected City of Murrieta Councilmember Cindy Warren as first vice chair and City of Lake Elsinore Mayor Pro Tem Timothy J. Sheridan as second vice chair.