The SR 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings Project is a transformative effort to improve safety for motorists, enhance habitat connectivity, and strengthen the region’s trail network. The project will construct a dedicated wildlife undercrossing and a separate trail overcrossing to address one of the most hazardous wildlife-vehicle collision zones in the Bay Area.
The Lexington Reservoir corridor along SR 17 is a known “hot spot” for wildlife mortality, with 266 recorded wildlife-vehicle collisions in recent years—including 13 mountain lion strikes, five within the project area. These collisions not only threaten regional wildlife populations but also pose significant safety risks to motorists. Existing culverts and crossings in the area are too small, poorly located, or limited to recreational use, leaving mountain lions, deer, and other species with few safe passage options.
BKF’s involvement in the project began with a feasibility study for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, which evaluated eight potential crossing alternatives. The study helped identify the preferred locations and configurations for a wildlife undercrossing and trail overcrossing. Now, BKF has been awarded the final design contract by VTA and will lead the project through design, bidding, and construction.
The planned improvements will:
- Provide physically separated crossings to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve driver safety.
- Reconnect thousands of acres of habitat for mountain lions and other species fragmented by the highway.
- Enhance regional trail connections, linking over 50 miles of trails and providing safer access for recreational users.
BKF’s scope includes final design services for the selected alternatives, value engineering to reduce construction costs and optimizing construction staging to minimize impacts on motorists and adjacent parcels. Key design features will include noise-reducing pavement, wildlife fencing, electrified mats, native planting and irrigation, lighting, and other aesthetic considerations.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2029, marking a major milestone in the region’s efforts to integrate transportation infrastructure with ecological stewardship.
