City manager outlines New Drive, Rio Demar and SR‑29 projects in citywide circulation review

City Manager Mr. Holly and staff gave a detailed presentation June 2 on the city’s new mobility element and planned transportation projects, walking the council and public through historical plans, completed segments, and outstanding engineering, right‑of‑way and funding steps required to deliver the east‑west and north‑south connectors repeatedly proposed over the last three decades.

The presentation framed four near‑term project groups: (1) New Drive / South Kelly Road (a multi‑segment alignment that includes a proposed railroad crossing); (2) Rio Demar East (a set of alignment alternatives to connect Watson Ranch to State Highway 29); (3) the west‑side connector (a recommendation from a citizen steering committee adopted into the general plan); and (4) the SR‑29 multimodal corridor project being led by the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA).

City manager comments and schedule: Mr. Holly told the council that some property acquisitions are complete for several New Drive segments but that acquisition and engineering remain incomplete for others, and that the railroad crossing and right‑of‑way for South Kelly are outstanding. He said consultants (Kimley Horn and others) are preparing alternatives analyses and a decision matrix; based on current complexity and coordination with regional partners he told councilors he would be "surprised" if every New Drive segment had a ribbon cutting in the next five years (paraphrase of council discussion). He also described the SR‑29 project entering CEQA/NEPA phases and noted a project initiation document and project number are now established with Caltrans for the SR‑29 corridor work.

Public reaction and interim options: Dozens of residents and property‑owners addressed the council. Some supported a quick interim connection such as a South Napa Junction option, saying it would be faster and cheaper than building full New Drive; others urged the council to pursue the New Drive alignment and to secure funding, property and environmental clearances before opening new links. Vice Mayor Mark Joseph called South Napa Junction a “viable interim solution” that would give east‑side residents an additional exit while longer, more complex projects proceed.

Next steps: Staff said consultants will complete technical matrices and alternatives analyses by later this year and that council would be updated as the studies and Caltrans/NVTA processes advance. No formal vote was taken; the item was informational and will return for future direction and project‑level approvals.