NVTA

What NVTA does

NVTA is a California Joint Powers Authority established in 1998 that functions as the Congestion Management Agency and countywide transportation planner for Napa County. It coordinates funding and planning across six member jurisdictions (Cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, and St. Helena; the Town of Yountville; and the County of Napa) and operates the Vine Transit bus system, which includes fixed-route service (Routes A-G plus regional express Routes 10, 11X, and 29), paratransit (VineGo), and door-to-door on-demand shuttles (American Canyon Transit, St. Helena Shuttle, Calistoga Shuttle, Yountville Bee Line). It also delivers capital projects such as the $56M Soscol Junction Interchange, the $48M Vine Transit Maintenance Facility, the $4M Imola Park & Ride, and the multi-phase 47-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail.

The agency's underlying asset base centers on a public transit bus fleet that is transitioning from diesel to zero-emission electric and hybrid-electric propulsion, with a stated goal of an all-electric fleet by 2030 funded by more than $22M in cumulative federal grants since 2017. Its planning and demand-management technology layer includes the V-Commute platform (built on RideAmigos) supporting the Guaranteed Ride Home and Commute Challenge programs, a Google Maps transit-data integration, and the "Ride the Vine" mobile application for on-demand ride scheduling.

NVTA is funded through a hybrid public revenue model: dedicated local sales taxes (Measure T, passed 2012; Measure U, approved 2025, expected to generate approximately $500 million over 25 years), federal and state capital grants (FTA, MTC, California OTS), nominal fares, and ancillary bus-advertising revenue sold through Lamar. It serves four primary user segments—general commuters, seniors and people with disabilities, youth and students, and regional commuters—and is governed by a Board of Directors led as of 2025 by Mark Joseph, with Danielle Schmitz appointed Executive Director in July 2025 following Kate Miller's 13-year tenure.

Name

NVTA

Legal name

Napa Valley Transportation Authority

Website

https://www.nvta.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Napa Valley Transportation Authority is a California Joint Powers Authority and Congestion Management Agency that operates the Vine Transit bus system and coordinates transportation planning, funding, and capital projects across Napa County's six member jurisdictions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Ambulatory Paratransit (ADA/Dial-a-Ride) Operators (TLAFAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Paratransit / Accessible Ride-Hailing (WAV & Special Assistance) (THADADAH)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Transportation planning
• Congestion management
• Paratransit services
• Transit infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Napa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Transit Operations: Operates Vine Transit bus system providing fixed-route service, on-demand service, paratransit, and regional express bus service throughout the North Bay.
2. Sales Tax Revenue (Measure U): Half-cent sales tax measure expected to generate approximately $500 million over its 25-year lifespan for reconstruction and rehabilitation of local streets and roads and related transportation improvements.
3. Federal Transit Grants: Federal grants for bus purchases and infrastructure. Since 2017, NVTA has received more than $22 million in federal grants for 25 new zero-emission or hybrid buses.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NVTA operates the Vine Transit public bus system for Napa County, providing fixed-route local service (Routes A–G), regional express routes to BART, Vallejo Ferry, and Amtrak, door-to-door paratransit (VineGo), and on-demand community shuttles (American Canyon, St. Helena, Calistoga, Yountville). The agency also plans and funds countywide transportation infrastructure including the Napa Valley Vine Trail, Imola Park & Ride, and Soscol Junction interchange, while administering the V-Commute travel demand management platform.

Product overview

NVTA operates Vine Transit as a comprehensive public transit system serving Napa County, consisting of fixed-route bus services (Routes A-G, Routes 10, 11X, 29), paratransit services (VineGo), and on-demand shuttle services (American Canyon Transit, St. Helena Shuttle, Calistoga Shuttle, Yountville Bee Line). The V-Commute platform supports commute alternatives through the Commute Challenge incentive program and Guaranteed Ride Home emergency reimbursement service. NVTA manages transportation infrastructure including the Imola Park & Ride facility and the Napa Valley Vine Trail multi-use path. Transit fares range from free services (Yountville Bee) to $1.00 (St. Helena Shuttle) with a Summer Youth Pass at $20 for ages 6-18. The agency is transitioning to a zero-emission fleet with a goal of all-electric buses by 2030, supported by federal grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vine: Napa Valley's bus system providing fixed-route service, on-demand service, door-to-door paratransit, local on-demand shuttles, and regional/express bus service
• VineGo
• Yountville Bee Line
• St. Helena Shuttle
• American Canyon Transit
• Calistoga Shuttle
• Taxi Scrip
• UpValley Lifeline

Products and services

• UpValley Lifeline / Vine UpValley Link Subsidized rideshare program for certified seniors and residents with disabilities in Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga.
• Taxi Scrip Discounted taxi rides program for certified seniors and persons with disabilities within the City of Napa.
• Vine Transit (Fixed-Route Bus Service) Napa Valley's fixed-route bus system providing local service (Routes A–G in the City of Napa) and regional express routes (10, 11X, 29) connecting to BART, Vallejo Ferry, and Amtrak. Open to the general public for commuting, school, medical, and recreational trips.
• VineGo Paratransit Curb-to-curb shared ride paratransit service within 3/4 mile of fixed-route bus system for certified seniors and people with disabilities. Provides accessibility transportation alternative to fixed-route service.
• American Canyon Transit On-demand door-to-door shuttle service within the City of American Canyon, plus a fixed-route to accommodate the high school bell schedule. For City of American Canyon residents and students.
• St. Helena Shuttle On-demand door-to-door shuttle service within the City of St. Helena with a $1.00 per-ride fare, plus a fixed-route to accommodate the high school bell schedule. Operated with zero-emission electric buses.
• Calistoga Shuttle On-demand door-to-door shuttle service within the City of Calistoga, plus a fixed-route to accommodate the high school bell schedule.
• Yountville Bee Line Free on-demand door-to-door shuttle service within the Town of Yountville, operated with a zero-emission electric bus. Free service funded by the Town of Yountville.
• V-Commute Travel Demand Management Platform Online platform for Bay Area commuters to log alternative commute trips, earn rewards, and access Guaranteed Ride Home emergency reimbursement. Built on the RideAmigos platform.
• Imola Park & Ride $4 million transit facility with bus pullouts and platforms on both sides of Highway 29, sheltered waiting areas with lighting and wayfinding, EV charging stations, and pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure.
• Napa Valley Vine Trail 47-mile planned bike and pedestrian trail linking Napa and Solano Counties from Calistoga to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. Multi-use active transportation infrastructure.
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) Emergency transportation reimbursement program for commuters who use alternative transportation, reimbursing up to 4 trips per calendar year for emergencies including illness, elder care, bicycle breakdown, and schedule changes.
• Bucks for Bikes Bike commuter incentive program providing up to $500 toward the purchase of a new or replacement commuter bicycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each zero-emission bus eliminates 1,690 tons of CO2 in a 12-year lifespan, equivalent to taking 27 cars off the road
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2023MTC approved $3 million in federal transportation funds for improvements to Highway 29 from Napa Junction Road to American Canyon Road. MTC coordinates funds from Transportation Development Act for transit, paratransit, streets and roads, and bicycle projects.
• Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Collaboration on Re-Oaking the Valley initiative to mitigate loss of oak trees along Vine Trail alignment. NVTA and Napa RCD are planting native oak acorns gathered exclusively from Napa Valley native oak trees to restore ecological diversity.
• Napa Valley Vine Trail CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Partnership with Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition for construction of the 47-mile Vine Trail from Vallejo Ferry Terminal to Calistoga. NVTA and Coalition are collaborating on the St. Helena to Calistoga segment, a 7.4-mile $12.58 million construction project expected to create 230 direct jobs.
• County of NapacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Joint partnership with County of Napa on Vine Trail construction from St. Helena to Calistoga. County is one of the funding partners contributing to the $12.58 million project.
• City of St. HelenacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Partnership with City of St. Helena for Vine Trail segment linking users to city, schools including Culinary Institute of America, and job opportunities.
• City of CalistogacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Partnership with City of Calistoga for Vine Trail segment ending at Calistoga's Lincoln Avenue, connecting to state parks and wineries.
• Kimley HornminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 September 2021Awarded contract for environmental and design work on the Imola Park and Ride project. Kimley Horn completed environmental and design work in early 2020.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Sonoma County Transportation Authority: Sonoma County's Regional Transportation Planning Agency and Congestion Management Agency, operating analogous functions to NVTA: countywide transportation planning, funding coordination, Measure M sales tax authority, and oversight of bus transit (Sonoma County Transit). Direct structural peer operating in the adjacent North Bay wine country region with similar rural/small-city service mix.
• Solano Transportation Authority: Solano County's congestion management and transportation planning agency, coordinating transit (SolTrans, Fairfield-Suisun Transit), paratransit, and regional express connections — including the Vallejo Ferry Terminal that NVTA's Vine Trail connects to. Comparable Congestion Management Agency mandate, multi-jurisdictional coordination, and grant-funded capital programs.
• Marin Transit: Marin County's transit operator providing fixed-route bus, paratransit, and on-demand shuttles for a similar mix of small cities, towns, and unincorporated areas. Comparable operational scale (small agency, multi-jurisdictional), similar paratransit (Marin Access) and youth fare programs, and serves regional connections to San Francisco via Golden Gate Transit.
• Transportation Authority of Marin: Marin County's Congestion Management Agency responsible for transportation planning, funding (Measure AA/AAA sales tax), and programming. Direct structural parallel to NVTA: sales tax measure funding, multi-jurisdictional planning, active transportation programs, and Vision Zero initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Transportation Commission: The regional transportation planning and funding coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, and an active NVTA partner ($3M Highway 29 funding approval). Functions as the upper-tier coordinating body that channels federal funds (FTA, FHWA) to county-level CMAs including NVTA.
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA): San Francisco's consolidated transit operator and CMA, providing bus, light rail, paratransit, and bike infrastructure. Much larger scale than NVTA but operates the regional hub (BART/Ferry connections) that NVTA's express services feed into. Broad incumbent illustrating the upper bound of municipal transit agency scope.
• Caltrans (California Department of Transportation): California's state transportation department, overseeing state highways (including SR-29 and SR-12 in Napa County where NVTA leads interchange projects) and administering state and federal transit grant programs. Functions as both a regulator/funder and a project partner for NVTA's capital programs.
• AC Transit (Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District): East Bay bus operator providing fixed-route and paratransit service with a significant zero-emission fleet transition. Operates the El Cerrito del Norte BART station that NVTA's Route 11X connects to. Larger-scale peer demonstrating fleet electrification at scale.

Direct peers

• SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit District): San Mateo County's bus and paratransit operator providing fixed-route, on-demand, and Redi-Wheels paratransit services. Closest functional peer to NVTA's Vine Transit: small-to-mid county operator with fixed-route bus, paratransit, and youth fare programs, though serving a larger suburban county.

Others

• RideAmigos: Travel demand management software platform that powers NVTA's V-Commute platform (commute logging, rewards, Guaranteed Ride Home). Software vendor enabling NVTA's commuter incentive programs and illustrative of the broader TDM platform category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NVTA_NapaValley
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nvta7191
• Facebookfacebook.com/nvta.ca
• Instagraminstagram.com/nvta.ca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/napa-valley-transportation-authority-nvta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NVTA