Thompson Present $4 Million Check to Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition for Gap Closure Project
This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) presented a check for $4,000,000 to the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition for the Napa Valley Vine Trail Yountville to St. Helena Gap Closure project. The funding will assist in the closing of the 10-mile gap between the existing 12-mile Vine Trail from Napa to Yountville, and the nine-mile segment of Vine Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga that will be constructed in 2023.
“Providing alternative methods of transportation is essential to the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Thompson. “This segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail will provide fantastic recreational opportunities for Napa Valley families, connect Yountville and St. Helena, and help to provide a safe mode of travel for pedestrians, cyclists, and visitors wanting to explore our region. I was proud to work with the Vine Trail Coalition to identify this need for funding, and I look forward to seeing the Vine Trail help reduce emissions, promote healthy lifestyles, and connect our communities.”
"We cannot thank Mike enough for helping to make the full Vine Trail a reality in Napa and Solano County. This Federal Community Programs grant is transformational for three big reasons. First, it accelerates the Vine Trail’s and Napa County’s ability to connect north and south Napa County with a complete, 31-mile alternative transportation corridor. Second, it provides funding for the hardest to get pre-engineering, environmental and survey work that is critical to ensure we build a safe and sustainable trail and provide the detailed design needed to prove we are shovel ready to build. Third and most importantly, it inspires private philanthropy and state grant sources that will help us raise the funds to construct this key piece of the Vine Trail. Thank you, for this Mike. I am also very humbled that you voiced your support of me and the Vine Trail on the House floor. This is truly the effort of a 28 organization coalition with a shared goal for a safe route that preserves and showcases our beautiful Napa Valley. I have been blessed to be able to lead this group of visionaries for the last 15 years," said Chuck McMinn, founder and board president of the non-profit Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition.
The $4 million that Rep. Thompson secured will fund the planning, engineering, and environmental work essential to complete in 2023 for gap closure to be ready for construction by 2025. This grant will complete the final steps to construction at the same time the trailhead connector in Calistoga completes in 2023.
It is estimated that, when all 47-miles of Vine Trail are completed, it will benefit the local economy by over $165 million annually.
Learn more about this project here.