San Benito Wildlife Crossing
Project Description
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to construct an overcrossing structure to improve wildlife connectivity and reduce animal-vehicle collisions in a critical wildlife movement corridor, which is currently bisected by U.S. Route 101 in San Benito County.
Project Benefits
Purpose
The project will improve wildlife connectivity by creating a wildlife crossing along US-101 in a critical linkage. By providing safe passage for wildlife, the project would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve driver safety. The wildlife crossing will connect thousands of acres of land north of US-101 to 2,600 continuous acres of land south of the highway owned by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. The crossing will be designed to facilitate movement of multiple native species including mountain lion and mule deer.
Need
The Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilán Range are two of the state’s most biodiverse areas and are currently bisected by US-101. The 4-lane divided highway impedes wildlife movement between the mountain ranges and increases the potential for animal-vehicle collisions. Habitat fragmentation and barriers from development and roads can inhibit gene flow essential to maintaining healthy wildlife populations. The proposed crossing is located in a critical wildlife movement corridor, along a segment of US-101 the State has identified as a high-priority barrier for remediation.
Estimated Funding Breakdown
Funding Source (Project is currently funded to 60% plans): Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) Grant. Amount to Date: $5,605,000.Partnerships
- Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC)
- The Wildlife Conservation Network
- Pathways for Wildlife
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Peninsula Open Space Trust
Proposed Project Schedule
| Process | Date |
|---|---|
| Approve Project Initiation Document (PID) | Completed |
| Approve Project Report and Environmental Document | Spring 2026 |
| Design to be completed | Winter 2030 |
| Construction to begin | Winter 2030 |
| Construction to be completed | Winter 2033 |
Project Contact
Project Manager
Terry Thompson
(805) 503-5013
Documents
Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Title VI Brochures
Title VI brochures in various languages
