Alma Bridge Road Newt Passage Project

Project Goals:

The 2021 Study built upon on several years of community science data collection. Since their monitoring began in 2017, they have recorded over 27,000 newts killed on the roadway.

Although Midpen does not have jurisdiction over Alma Bridge Road (Santa Clara County owns and maintains the road and right-of-way), we are committed to working with the County and other regional partners to identify corrective actions, provide funding and support the implementation of long-term solutions to reduce road-related newt mortality. 

A stakeholder working group comprised of landowners, public and private agencies, environmental advocacy and recreational groups and residents and neighbors worked together to develop the Midpen board-approved project goals:

• Reduce roadkill and provide habitat connectivity to sustain local newt population.
• Be correctly scaled, meaning the wildlife crossing can be designed, environmentally cleared, permitted and implemented (funding dependent).
• Be cost effective.
• Be maintainable.
• Not impede road safety, hydrology or public use.
• Facilitate existing and future use of Alma Bridge Road and surrounding areas and facilities, including:
  • Continued vehicle use of the roadway and parking areas.
  • Continued and future recreational access to existing facilities and trails as well as future parking and trails (such as the Beatty Parking Area and Trails Project).
  • Have support from stakeholders.

Additional information about this project can be found in the informational item from the October 11, 2023, board of directors meeting.

On November 7, 2023 Santa Clara County amended and restated the Cooperative Agreement between Midpen and the County detailing how the agencies are working together to provide wildlife passages across Alma Bridge Road. 

Find out more about newts!