Napa VINE proposes dropping Route 25 to Sonoma

Source of image: Vine Transit on Facebook

Talk about bad to worse: With public transportation non-existent between Calistoga and Santa Rosa, the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) is looking at ending its intercity bus service to Sonoma.

As a commuter hoping to shape my circumstances where I can travel by bus, this move represents a huge step in the wrong direction.

Instead of opening vistas of travel between Napa and Sonoma counties, this would entirely isolate riders in their service boundaries.

NVTA serves as congestion management agency for Napa County, but a loss of bus service will only aggravate delays during peak commute hours and weekends -- because people who could otherwise travel by bus must instead drive cars.

I understand dropping this route is due to a reduction in federal funds, but I know NVTA is exploring connectivity with Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit.

I ask NVTA to please connect bus services with the Santa Rosa end of the SMART Train route, perhaps through a partnership with Sonoma County Transportation Authority.

If NVTA goes ahead with its proposal to drop Route 25, it is all the more vital that we achieve bus connections between Santa Rosa and Calistoga.

NVTA will hold a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. May 17, at the Soscol Gateway Transit Center Board Room, 625 Burnell St. in Napa. The purpose of this hearing will be to discuss the service reduction and receive public comments.

Written public comments on service reductions may also be submitted to:

NVTA-Vine Transit
Matthew Wilcox/ Route 25 Sonoma
625 Burnell St.
Napa, CA 94559

Written public comments will be received until May 16. For special accommodations or translation services, citizens can call 707-259-8631 at least 48 hours in advance of the public hearing. NVTA assures nondiscrimination in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.