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Preliminary Alternatives Report July 22, 2016

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Preliminary Alternatives Report July 22, 2016 Highway 17 Wildlife Passage Structures and Bay Area Ridge Trail Crossing: Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study Preliminary Alternatives Report July 22, 2016 Prepared for: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Prepared by: With: Anthony P. Clevenger, PhD, Wildlife Biologist Biggs Cardosa Associates, Structural Engineers Cal Engineering & Geology, Geologists and Geotechnical Engineers David J. Powers & Associates, Environmental Planners Mark Thomas & Company, Civil Engineers Pathways for Wildlife Highway 17 Wildlife Passage Structures and Bay Area Ridge Trail Crossing Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study Preliminary Alternatives Report Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, California, 94022‐1404, (650) 691‐1200 July 22, 2016 Preparers and Contributors Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Staff Allen Ishibashi, Sr. Real Property Agent Damon Adlao, Capital Project Manager III Kirk Lenington, Natural Resources Manager Julie Andersen, Resource Management Specialist III Jane Mark, Planning Manager Meredith Manning, Sr. Planner Leslie Chan, Planner II Consultants TrailPeople, Landscape Architects and Planners, Study Lead: Randy Anderson, Principal Landscape Architect, Project Manager Antony P. Clevenger, PhD, Wildlife Biologist Biggs Cardosa Associates, Structural Engineers: Carlos Vasquez, P.E. Project Engineer; Mahvash Harms, S.E., Principal Engineer Cal Engineering & Geology, Geologists and Geotechnical Engineers: Reid Fisher, P.G., C.E.G., Project Geologist; Phil Gregory, P.E., G.E., Principal Geotechnical Engineer Mark Thomas & Company, Civil Engineers: Marilou Ayupan, P.E., Project Engineer David J. Powers & Associates, Environmental Planners: John Hesler, Senior Environmental Planner Pathways for Wildlife: Tanya Diamond, Principal Wildlife Biologist; Ahiga Snyder, Principal Wildlife Researcher TrailPeople, Landscape Architects and Planners, 919 First Street, Suite 1, Benicia, California, 94501 (707) 205‐1370 www.trailpeople.net Highway 17 Wildlife Passage Structures and Bay Area Ridge Trail Crossing Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study Preliminary Alternatives Report July 22, 2016 Contents 1. Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 0 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1. Project Background and Objectives ................................................................................................... 3 2.2. Overview of Preliminary Alternatives Report .................................................................................... 4 2.3. Study Area Overview ......................................................................................................................... 5 2.4. Background ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Related Plans, Studies and Projects – Wildlife Crossing ........................................................................... 8 Related Plans, Studies and Projects – Trail Crossing ............................................................................... 11 3. Purpose and Need .............................................................................................................................. 14 4. Deficiencies ......................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1. Wildlife/Traffic Conflict ................................................................................................................... 15 Wildlife Road‐Kill Data Summary ........................................................................................................ 15 Cross‐Highway 17 Movement ............................................................................................................. 15 Camera Study ...................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2. Regional Multi‐Use Trail Connection Gap ....................................................................................... 19 5. Stakeholder Coordination .................................................................................................................. 21 6. Conditions and Objectives for Design ................................................................................................ 22 6.1. Conditions, Considerations and Objectives .................................................................................... 22 Wildlife Crossings ................................................................................................................................ 22 Highway Design and Construction ...................................................................................................... 27 Geological/Geotechnical ..................................................................................................................... 30 Hydrologic ........................................................................................................................................... 32 Trail Crossing Design ........................................................................................................................... 32 6.2. Crossing Alternatives Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................ 33 Functionality for Wildlife .................................................................................................................... 33 Functionality for People ...................................................................................................................... 35 Constructability/Cost .......................................................................................................................... 35 Future Decision Factors ...................................................................................................................... 36 6.3. Evaluation Methodology ................................................................................................................. 37 7. Alternatives Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 38 7.1. Existing Crossing Facilities ............................................................................................................... 38 TrailPeople, Landscape Architects and Planners Page ii Highway 17 Wildlife Passage Structures and Bay Area Ridge Trail Crossing Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study Preliminary Alternatives Report July 22, 2016 Existing Culverts .................................................................................................................................. 38 Lexington Culvert Assessment ............................................................................................................ 39 Existing Overcrossing: Bear Creek Road/Alma Bridge Road ............................................................... 43 7.2. New Crossing Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 44 Alternative 1 – New Undercrossing at Ravine Culvert ........................................................................ 46 Evaluation: Alternative 1 – New Undercrossing at Ravine Culvert Location .......................................... 53 Alternative 2 – New Undercrossing at Trout Creek ............................................................................ 55 Evaluation: Alternative 2 – New Undercrossing at Trout Creek ......................................................... 62 Alternative 3 – New Overcrossing ...................................................................................................... 64 Evaluation: Alternative 3 – New Overcrossing.................................................................................... 71 Alternative 4 – New Undercrossing – Montevina Road to Alma Bridge Road .................................... 73 Evaluation: Alternative 4 – Undercrossing, Montevina Road to Alma Bridge Road ........................... 80 8. Summary: Preliminary Findings ......................................................................................................... 82 List of Figures Figure 1: Study Area Map ............................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 2: Habitat Corridors in the Santa Cruz Mountains from the Critical Linkages Report ....................... 9 Figure 3: Bear Creek Redwoods OSP Preliminary Public Access Plan ......................................................... 13 Figure 4: Mountain Lion Crossings and Roadkill Data................................................................................. 17 Figure 5: Top 2% Cougar Corridors for Predicting Highway Crossings (from UCSC Puma Project Report) 18 Figure 6: Portion of Santa Clara County Trail Alignments Status Map, August 2015 ................................. 19 Figure 7 : “Heat Map” of Study Area Bicycling and Running Activity ......................................................... 20 Figure 8 California Natural Diversity Data Base Map for Lexington Area: .................................................
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