Vine Trail’s St. Helena to Calistoga stretch slated to open this summer

The 8-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail segment that runs between St. Helena and Calistoga is scheduled to finally open to cyclists and pedestrians this summer.

After hitting a financial roadblock in March, the Napa Valley Transportation Authority board had to approve an additional $740,000 for unexpected construction conflicts related to work on a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gas line.

In September, the board dealt with an earlier funding gap related to PG&E delays and authorized $700,000 more in funding.

The original cost of the project was estimated at $13.2 million but has since risen to $17 million.

After almost two years since construction broke ground, the segment was originally scheduled to be completed within a year, but financial setbacks and rainy weather caused delays.

“This is just the nature of the beast on this project,” said Kate Miller, executive director of Napa Valley Transportation Authority. “We are disturbing areas that have never been built on.”

The St. Helena and Calistoga section will feature a freshly paved bicycle and pedestrian path that will go past a handful of Napa Valley wineries and state parks, and most importantly, connect two towns.

“It is such an important artery of bike and pedestrian pathways in Napa,“ said Miller.

The Napa Valley Vine Trail is a 47-mile, north-to-south trail that connects the entire Napa Valley, stretching from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal to Calistoga.

Since 2008, the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, a local nonprofit, has advocated for the funding and building of an accessible trail.

“It has bolstered the jurisdiction’s interest in making sure that the cities and the county have facilities everywhere that connect to the Vine Trail,” said Miller. “But also recognizing that we need to provide safe facilities for people to be able to use their bikes and also be able to walk.”