IN THE NEWS

New VINE Express Service to Begin
The new VINE Express Route 29 will make you nostalgic for the early days of travel. Beginning June 15th the VINE Express Route 29 will offer four round trips each weekday during AM and PM peak commuter hours (click title to open schedule). Limited stops are located between Calistoga and the Vallejo Ferry Terminal for only $2 per one-way trip.

The VINE Express Route 29 service meets 5 morning and 5 late afternoon/early evening ferry's. Commuters are also able to make BART connections with Vallejo Transit Express Route 80 service to El Cerrito del Norte from the York & Marin Transfer and Express Route 78 service to Concord/Pleasant Hill from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal.

Coming to Napa?? Transfer from a bus or ferry in Vallejo, or from a park & ride lot catch a VINE Route 29 bus to Napa Valley College, downtown Napa and many more locations. As well, local riders can take a bus to Up Valley employment sites quicker on the new limited stop VINE Route 29 service. Call the VINE Customer Service Office to learn more at (707) 251-2800.

Notification of Public Hearing
For potential Fare Increases of the VINE and VINE Go Services and potential Discontinuation of VINE Route 11 and the Downtown Napa Trolley. The public is invited to attend and be heard at: Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency at 1:30 pm, on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 ** 707 Randolph St, Napa CA ** (707) 259-8631.

We Want to Hear from You
The VINE Consumer Advisory Committee (VCAC)meets bi-monthly at 6 p.m. at the Napa County Transportation & Planning Agency. The VCAC is an advisory committee that meets to discuss transit issues about the VINE and related transit services. The public is welcome to attend and share their comments and suggestions. Future meeting dates are: July 9th, September 10th and November 12th. The meeting address is NCTPA, 707 Randolph Street, Conference Room, Napa, next to the historic Presbyterian Church. For additional information call 707-259-8631.

New VINE Route 10 Bus Stop in Calistoga
A new VINE Route 10 bus stop has been added at 110 Foothill Blvd in Calistoga, between Dunaweal Lane and Lincoln Avenue. This bus stop is only accessible in the northbound direction. Call the VINE Customer Service Office at 707-251-2800 if you have questions.

VINE Route 11 to operate Weekdays
Starting Monday, May 4, 2009 the VINE Route 11 service to Santa Rosa will begin operating Monday through Friday. The Saturday service has been eliminated. Three roundtrips will be made weekdays leaving from downtown Calistoga at 7 am, 9:40 am and 1:25 pm. Direct service to the downtown Santa Rosa Greyhound Depot is also available upon request by call (707) 251-2800.

For a limited time, through June 26, 2009, Route 11 has added Thursday and Friday service to the weekday line up for passengers traveling between St. Helena and Calistoga to desinations in Santa Rosa. After this period the continuation of Route 11 will be evaluated. If you have comments please contact NCTPA at (707) 259-8631.

NCTPA Transit Services RFP #09-01 Released
Notice is hereby given that proposals will be accepted by the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency (NCTPA), 707 Randolph Street, Suite 100, Napa CA 94559, May 1, 2009 no later than 4 PM PDT for: RFP #09-01: Operations, Maintenance of Facilities and Maintenance of Equipment of the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency Transit Services.

Obtaining Documents, Contract Administrator: Paul W. Price, Executive Director, 707-259-8631

Pre-Proposal Conference, Questions: A pre-proposal conference will be held on Friday, April 10, 2009 at 9 AM PDT in the NCTPA Board Room, 707 Randolph Street, Napa CA 94559. Offerers are strongly urged to attend. Minutes of the conference will be available at www.ncpta.net for viewing and download.

To download a copy of the NCTPA RFP #09-01 go to About NCTPA, then click the Job/Contract Opportunities button.

Attention Taxi Scrip Users
Effective Wednesday, April 1, 2009 taxi cab companies will now longer be able to accept scrip as "tips". Taxi Scrip users are advised to request their change if the trip fare is less than the amount of scrip used to pay for the trip. For additional information, contact the VINE Customer Service Office at 707-251-2800.

SR 29 Gateway Corridor Feasibility Study
The Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency (NCTPA) Board of Directors voted on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 to release the initial scope of work to its member jurisdictions for action for the SR 29 Gateway Corridor Feasibility Study. NCTPA and Solano Transportation Authority (STA) have worked together to identify the various steps and elements that should be considered for the Hwy 29 Gateway Corridor project. Comments can be transmitted via e-mail info@nctpa.net with the subject line “Public Comments for SR 29 Gateway Study” or by visiting our offices. NCTPA is located at 707 Randolph Street, Suite 100 in Downtown Napa.

Napa Greenway Feasibility Study
An updated version of the Draft Countywide Bike Path Feasibility Study is now available for examination. To view the report visit http://NapasTransportationFuture.
googlepages.com/napagreenway
feasibilitystudy

Yountville Shuttle Expands Service Hours
Beginning Friday, November 28th the Yountville Shuttle will launch new, extended hours to 11 pm, including on demand pickup service between the hours of 7 pm to 11 pm. No service on Monday and Tuesdays. Call 707-944-1234 to learn more, or call 707-312-1509 to request a deviated pickup.

Paratransit Coordinating Council Vacancy
Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency is accepting applications to fill a Social Services Provider vacancy on the Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC). The PCC is comprised of eleven volunteer members, who serve in an advisory capacity to the NCTPA Board of Directors. The PCC provides input and recommendation to the Board on matters that improve the availability of transportation services for persons with special needs and seniors, while meeting the needs of the general public. PCC meetings are held bi-monthly at 10 am at NCTPA, 707 Randolph Street in downtown Napa. To learn more contact Deborah Brunner at 259-8778 or dbrunner@nctpa.net.

Trolley Expands Service to Marriott & Hilton
The downtown Napa Trolley has extended service to northwest Napa delivering riders directly from the Marriott and Hilton hotels, Bel Aire Plaza, several B&B’s and other locations to historic downtown Napa.

Trips originating in the downtown Napa free zone are still a free ride. Effective Wednesday, September 3, 2008 the fare for trips originating outside of the free zone are 60-cents to $1.25. The Trolley operates from 11 am to 9:46 pm daily with longer hours until 10:55 pm on Friday and Saturday night. To learn more please call the VINE Customer Service Office at 707-251-2800 or visit www.NapaValleyVine.net/Trolley.

Trolley: 1st Street Bridge Closure
Beginning mid-June 2008 the First Street Bridge (at COPIA) will be closed for construction and the Trolley service will be detoured. Contact the VINE Customer Service Office at 707-251-2800 or visit the City of Napa website at www.cityofnapa.org for additional information.

DIRECTOR'S UPDATE

New Executive Director Named

Paul W. Price is the new Executive Director of the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency having joined the organization in January of 2009. Prior to that, Paul worked with Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas as well as Booz Allen Hamilton between 2001 and 2008. Mr. Price has just finished his work on the Salt Lake City Commuter Rail as the Project Director. Between 2002 and 2006 Mr. Price was the Project Manager on the Nashville “Music City Star” rail project.

Price has over 34 years of Public Transit experience with private and public sector transportation projects and led the successful development and implementation of the Coaster Commuter Rail project in San Diego and the Sounder Commuter Rail project in the Seattle area in addition to the recent Nashville project. Mr. Price also led the planning and preliminary design efforts for the Oceanside to Escondido DMU light rail system, which began operation in February 2008.

Price has had considerable experience in transportation project planning, development, construction oversight, and operations of transportation efforts having worked for San Diego Transit and the North County Transit District (San Diego) for 24 years and Sound Transit in Seattle for 4 years.

IMPORTANT DATES

Paratransit Coordinating Council
The next regularly scheduled PCC meeting will be held Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 10 am. PCC meetings are held in the NCTPA Board Room at 707 Randolph Street in downtown Napa. For additional information contact Alberto Esqueda at 707-259-8631.

VINE Consumer Advisory Committee
The next VCAC meeting will be help Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 6 pm in the NCTPA Conference Room. The VCAC meets on the second Thursdays, bi-monthly. For additional information contact Debbie Schwarzbach at 707-259-8327.

Technical Advisory Committee
The next regular TAC meeting will be held Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 2:00 pm at NCTPA. TAC meetings will be held the first Thursday or every month. For additional information contact Alberto Esqueda at 707-259-8631.

NCTPA/NVTA Board Meeting
A SPECIAL NCTPA Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. NCTPA is located at 707 Randolph Street in downtown Napa. This meeting is a continuation of the June 17, 2009 meeting.

The next regular NCTPA Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. For additional information contact Karrie Sanderlin at 707-259-8633.

Bicycle Advisory Committee
The next BAC meeting will be held on June 22, 2009 at 5:30 pm. For additional information contact Eliot Hurwitz at 707-259-8782.