Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Napa Valley Public Transit Services Consolidated

MTC-allocated state moneys provide funding base for new transit authority

CONTACT:

Ann Flemer, MTC Deputy Director
510.464.7801

Mike Zdon, NCTPA Executive Director, 707.259.8634

OAKLAND, Calif., June 27, 2001...The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Napa County Transportation Planning Agency (NCTPA) today jointly announced the completion of a three-year effort to consolidate public transit planning, funding and operations in the Napa Valley.

As a result of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the NCTPA member agencies — the cities of Calistoga, St. Helena, Napa and American Canyon, the town of Yountville and Napa County — fixed route and paratransit contract management has been turned over to the NCTPA, effectively making the agency the transit authority for Napa Valley, and reducing the number of transit operators in the county from six to one.

Two separate fixed route bus networks have been merged into a new service called the "VINE," a new logo and marketing image have been developed, a new paratransit operator has been selected to ensure greater coordination between bus systems, and shuttle services in American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga are being improved.

Previously, transit planning within Napa Valley was the result of individual cities' and the county's efforts to meet passenger needs. With the MOU, NCTPA member agencies have established a process for ensuring a cooperative, coordinated and comprehensive transit system. Further, by pooling state Transportation Development Act funds that would normally have been allocated by MTC to each individual city and the county, they have established a funding base that will allow for the expansion and improvement of transit in the county over the next decade.

Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd, MTC commissioner and NCTPA board member, stated that "While the public may not be fully aware of these changes, the improvements to transit for the passengers will become very apparent over the next several years. Transit expansion will come from the economies of scale that occur with consolidation, and better planning will be the result of establishing a cooperative transit planning body like the NCTPA."

Steve Heminger, executive director of MTC, which provided the initial planning funds for NCTPA's efforts, commended the Napa agency and cited the cooperative approach adopted by the county as "a good example of the way MTC can encourage good planning practices among the region's cities and counties."

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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