Highway 17 Wildlife and Regional Trail Crossings Midpen is working with Caltrans to develop wildlife and regional trail crossings across Highway 17. The crossings, near the Town of Los Gatos, will connect over 30,000 acres of protected public lands. To meet the needs of both animals and a variety of recreational trail users, two separate structures are recommended. Well-placed and appropriately designed crossings will enable wide-ranging animals like mountain lions to roam and help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. This project was ranked as a Top 25 Priority in the Midpen 2014 Vision Plan. Partial funding of $16 million of voter-approved Measure AA funds has been allocated to the project. Additional funding will be required for construction of the crossings and connecting trails. Midpen is leading this locally, regionally and nationally important Ken Hickman project and will collaborate with many partners and stakeholders to fund this work. Project Goals • Link over 30,000 acres of habitat and protected public lands on either side of Highway 17 including Midpen preserves (El Sereno, St Joseph’s Hill, Bear Creek Redwoods) as well as Santa Clara County Parks (Lexington, Sanborn, and Almaden Quicksilver). • Improve motorist safety by reducing the potential for collisions with wildlife (and recreational users). • Maintain healthy wildlife populations. • Provide for safe movement of wildlife and recreational trail users across Highway 17. • Connect over 50 miles of existing trails—Bay Area Ridge Trail and Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail. Project Timeline Ongoing 2016 – 2018 2018 – 2019 2020 – 2022 2022 – 2024 2025 Partner development, Feasibility Caltrans Project Plans and Construction stakeholder outreach, Study Study Report Environmental Specifications and funding and Report Regional Trails Review and (Design) Connection Study Permitting Key Stakeholders and Regional Partnerships This project requires a high level of coordination and collaboration. Current partners on this project include: Caltrans District 4, Pathways for Wildlife, Bay Area Ridge Trail, National Wildlife Federation and Peninsula Open Space Trust. Midpen is continually working to develop additional partnerships and expects this list to grow as the project develops. Key stakeholders in this project include: Juan Bautista de Anza Trail (National Park Service), Santa Clara County Parks, Santa Clara County Roads and Airports, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Jose Water Company, and UC Santa Cruz Puma Project. Project Updates For project updates visit openspace.org/Hwy17 David Henry Serghiyko Rebecca McDonough Randy Weber Joel Silverman Potential Crossing Locations Midpen has advanced four alternatives for Caltrans review. Foster City E L S E RE NO ÄÆ84 Fremont 9 Belmont OP E N S PA C E ÄÆ ÄÆ92 Redwood East Half City PR E S E R VE Moon ÄÆ280 ÄÆ82 Palo Bay Alto Mountain View N hn ich 35 Jo o ÄÆ Los Altos Santa la s Clara T ÄÆ84 r. Cupertino S e Saratoga re n Los d Ju i x a n B ty 1 Gatos m a ÄÆ . u tis T 17 6 Bay Area Ridge Trail ta r Area of a 1 de ÄÆ i 0 A 35 n l ÄÆ 1 za Los Gatos 17 236 9 Tra Detail ÄÆ 9 ÄÆ 1 il ÄÆ 0 Creek Trail 2 _ w e i v r e v O _ 7 S A NB OR N 1 ST. J O SE PH 'S y T w CO U NT Y ro H \ u HI L L 3 t 2 PA R K C 0 5a r 1 TS OP E N SPA C E e 9 e 1 0 k 1 PR E SE R VE 2 Ly TS g n M n d o i o n ek t n tev 2 Lim iln e C in C e a TS r a R eek M o ny a d d r o a n o C reek 3a T a B TS ln r i \ ek i l s Lim p r a i P M LEXINGTON o ri _ 35 v e SI E R R A A ZU L \ r s g ÄÆ t R n e i RES. oc s s k OP E N SPA C E s T e ra o il r CO. PARK R C PR E SE R VE _ n e STUDY AREA f i o l t d B l la i ck Road g Bay W n A i r _ ea 7 x Rid 1 Ju g e a e y n T L B ra w auti il a H st nd \ a d e e A d n i gs za w ig C re Tr t Br ek ail c ad i o B E A R C R E E K r R t k s e i ek re D re C RE D W O OD S _ C r a er \ Dy a s t e B OP E N SPA C E c e j o PR E SE R VE r P \ : G : Highway 17 Project Overview h t a P Midpen Preserves Highway or Major Ro ad Existing Road Other Protected Lands A l Existing Trail A l m dercroft C Private Property reek a SI E R R A A ZU L Existing Los Gkatos Creek Trail B ee r Preferred Highway r i C d OP E N SPA C E # ExWisteinbgb Juan Bautista de Anza Trail h g t TS Crossing Alternative e e PR E SE R VE p k R a e o e 17 a : Existing Bay Area Ridge Trrail d y C ÄÆ B s li n d ol ek e C re t C a Miles drys e H en r I C 0 0.25 0.5 October 2019 While the District strives to use the best available digital data, these data do not represent a legal survey and are merely a graphic illustration of geographic features. 1. Undercrossing at Ravine Culvert 3a. New Overcrossing south of Trout Creek Canyon From an opening in a steep-walled canyon on the west From a level area above the west side of the highway a side of the highway, a crossing under the road would traditional recreational trail bridge would connect to a emerge on the east side of highway near a retaining wide landing area on the east side of the highway that wall along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The extremely steep could be connected to the existing Los Gatos Creek trail. and rocky access to the west is not suitable for a trail. 5a. New Overcrossing north of Trout Creek Canyon 2. Undercrossing at Trout Creek From a level area above the west side of the highway, From an opening on the west side of the highway at a traditional recreational trail bridge would connect to Trout Creek, a crossing under the road would emerge the east side of the highway. on the east side of the highway on an embankment above the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Mountain lions, deer and other wildlife frequently attempt to cross at this location, Icon Legend: Wildlife Crossing Trail Crossing often unsuccessfully. Supported in part by Measure AA Portfolio #20 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District South Bay Foothills: 330 Distel Circle Wildlife Passage and Ridge Trail Improvements Los Altos, California 94022-1404 650-691-1200 openspace.org October 2020.