A nickel here, a dollar there–when Napa Valley businesses choose to support the Vine Trail, the big bucks quickly start adding up! This week’s big donation from Solage Calistoga (read more here) is a case in point. The resort raised more than $16,000 over the last year by offering guests of their spa and award-winning restaurant, SolBar, a line on their tabs to leave a little extra “Tip for the Trail” and we are thrilled that Solage has committed to continuing this Vine Trail fundraiser for the next year!

In addition, Solage’s sister properties, Auberge du Soleil and Calistoga Ranch, have been among our staunchest supporters from the very start of the Coalition, donating a combination of guest and corporate contributions annually.

Another of our great business partners in both Napa and St Helena is local favorite, the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. Roastmaster Charlie Sange organized a fun “coffee cupping” last summer, where a group of volunteer Vine Trail tasters created a custom blend of coffee, the Vine Trail BLAZER Blend, available in-house or on-line. Ten per cent of BLAZER blend sales have been coming to us every month since!  From the tasters: “What’s rich and bold like the flavors of Napa Valley? The new Vine Trail “BLAZER” blend–with a complex 30% Tanzanian/50% Sumatran/ 20% Guatemalan.” Give Charlie and Doug a call and order some BLAZER blend today! St Helena: 707-963-4491 or Napa 707-224-2233

BREAKING “Earth Day 2012″ NEWS IN BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS:

The team at Cuvaison is committed to sustainability all year long, but in additon, for Earth Day weekend (April 20-22, 2012), Cuvaison will donate 5% of their wine club case sales to the Napa Valley Vine Trail! THANKS, CUVAISON!  See more details on Cuvaison’s website here.  After you place your big wine order, read more about Cuvaison’s green commitments–such as their ride-sharing and bike-to-work program encouraging employees to bike or carpool, which saved a whopping 17,000 miles on the road last year–at this link.

Napa Valley Vine Trail seeks to attract tourists, provide alternate transit

(Re-printed from a recent article in the North Bay Business Journal)

NAPA – A 44-mile mixed-use path for pedestrians and cyclists that would run the length of the Napa Valley and eventually connect to the ferry terminal in Vallejo is under way, and funding efforts are being ramped up as the proposal aimed at luring tourists and providing alternative transportation routes gains traction.

The Napa Valley Vine Trail not long ago received a key endorsement from the region’s influential agricultural groups, and construction has been completed on several parts of the trail, according to Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition Operations Director Shannon Kuleto.

The Vine Trail coalition, representing about 18 agencies involved in the planning, design and funding, anticipates that the path could generate as much as $75 million per year in ongoing economic impact as well as provide jobs for 60 people per mile throughout construction. It would also potentially replace the need for 150,000 automobile trips while enhancing bicycle safety.

According to the Napa Valley Vine Trail  Case Statement, prepared by the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency and the Vine Trail coalition, Napa Valley “is the second-highest bicycle accident rate per capita of the nine Bay Area counties and a poor environment for non-motorized transportation.” The statement also notes that the county is restricted in building new roads that would alleviate traffic because of it Agricultural Preserve.

The transportation and planning Agency commissioned a $100,000 feasibility study in 2007, and the county Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting the trail in May.

Construction of the trail is expected to cost about $44 million over 10 years – or $1 million per mile, Ms. Kuleto said, adding that the scope of the trail, while challenging, has mostly been met with positive reaction and support in all five Napa County cities as well is in Solano County.

Funding will consist of about an 80 percent mix of public money and 20 percent in private funds raised by the Vine Trail coalition. Sections of the trail that were deemed “shovel-ready” by this September were eligible for federal stimulus monies allocated for transit projects that reduce  carbon emissions or provide alternative transportation methods.

Napa Valley Vine Trail runs through Yountville.

The section in Yountville met those requirements and received $1 million in stimulus funds. It will open at the end of September.  St. Helena’s 4-to-5 mile stretch will be shovel-ready by the end of the year. Construction is also under way in the city of Napa, where portions of the trail will overlap with the already-existing Bay Trail.

Public funding for the remainder of the project will likely come from the federal government’s next round of transportation funding, during which billions of dollars will be allocated nationwide. Napa County is optimistic it will receive the financial support needed, said Eliot Hurwitz, a program manager for the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency.

“We’re expecting multi-use trails like this will get a much higher percentage than they normally do,” he said.

Environmental reports may need to be conducted for each city, Mr. Hurwitz said, and will be done so as each phase of construction comes.

Ms. Kuleto said it was too early to determine whether the project would require an environmental impact review but noted the trail is already within transit corridors.

“Because of where most of the route will be following, it’s not going to be in pristine areas of construction that would trigger the most stringent EIRs,” she said.

“We’re putting together this string of pearls, and they’re pretty wide ranging,” she added.

Mr. Hurwitz said as much preliminary planning as possible is being done before a determination is made on the federal dollars.

The Vine Trail coalition has met with Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and other government officials to discuss the federal funding and will continue to do so this week. The coalition is also hoping to raise $20 million in private funding from 2010 through 2013 to match whatever public funding it receives.

In May, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Vintners, Winegrowers of Napa County and the Napa County Farm Bureau all threw their support behind the plan after concerns about the county’s agricultural preserve were allayed by those involved with the planning, said Jennifer Putnam, executive director for the Grapegrowers and a founding member of the Vine Trail coalition.

“We would have a place where visitors could enjoy the valley without a vehicle and also for the locals,” Ms. Putnam said. “Its purpose would make it appealing for tourists and functional for residents.”

The sheer size of the project, involving two counties and five different municipalities, was not lost on proponents, and the seeming sense of consensus is reflected in the number of agencies and groups involved from the very start, Ms. Kuleto said.

Whereas other land-use proposals in Napa County have been contentious, the concerns surrounding the 44-mile path have so far been overcome. Outreach work will continue for those who still express lingering land-use issues.

“If you look at the size of the board … to see them all working together is quite inspiring,” Ms. Kuleto said. “There are a lot of watchdogs that are making sure no one camel gets its nose under the tent. It serves no one’s interest to violate the ag preserve.” Ms. Kuleto also said no vines will be taken out of production for construction on the path.

The Vine Trail coalition has offered to put up half of the money for preliminary design work in St. Helena for its design to reach 35 percent completion, and funding for design in Vallejo will be 100 percent provided by the coalition, Mr. Hurwitz said. The trail in Vallejo will connect to the ferry terminal, providing a crucial link to San Francisco.

Article printed from North Bay Business Journal: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com

URL to article: http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/24362/44-mile-bike-pedestrian-path-under-way/

More than 60 Vine Trail enthusiasts filled the room at Yountville’s beautiful new Community Center July 28th. All ages — from toddlers to octogenarians — came out, eager to hear how they could help the Coalition’s efforts to build a dedicated walking, hiking, biking trail from Vallejo to Calistoga.

Executive Director Chuck McMinn introduced the Vine Trail’s new Operations Director, Shannon Kuleto, before presenting an informative overview of the Vine Trail’s vision, master plan and pledge to accomplish its goals of open, inclusive and voluntary cooperation; with no vineyard land taken out of production (see the slideshow here).

Chuck’s presentation continued with a detailed update on the status of Vine Trail design, funding and construction. The Yountville mile, which began construction in April, is mere weeks away from completion in September! (see photos of Yountville Vine Trail construction progress here)

EVERYONE CAN HELP

Vine Trail Marketing Chair Gwen McGill then highlighted the many areas where the Vine Trail offers volunteer opportunities, and attendees gathered in smaller groups to offer their help, including (but NOT limited to) Marketing (especially creating business partnerships or training as a speaker to talk up the Vine Trail to clubs and groups), Engineering, Grant Writing, Capital Campaign, Administration/Database assistance, Membership Outreach, or staffing an event table (such as at Farmers Markets, Cheers! St. Helena, etc) to raise awareness and sign people up.

If you were unable to make this rally but would like to join us, please send a note with your name, contacts and possible areas of interest to Shannon Kuleto shannon@vinetrail.org. We are looking for an ace volunteer coordinator, too, by the way!

Most important for an all-volunteer grass roots coalition is simply SPREADING THE WORD. Become a member (donate securely here on the website).  Join our Facebook nonprofit group page “Napa Valley Vine Trail.” Invite us to present to your community or professional group. And ask your friends to do the same! The stronger our network, the greater–and sooner–our success!