The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced approximately $110 million in grants for 19 wildlife crossing projects, aimed at reducing car crashes involving wildlife.
According to a DOT news release, these funds are sourced from a program within President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The funding will be utilized for the development of wildlife crossings over and under busy roads, the addition of fencing, and the acquisition of tracking and mapping tools. It is projected that the BIL will allocate $350 million over five years under the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program.
"Every year, too many Americans are injured or killed in crashes involving cars and wildlife, especially in rural areas – but President Biden is tackling this challenge through these first-ever roadway safety grants," stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The projects we’re funding today in 17 states will reduce collisions between drivers and wildlife and save American lives."
The DOT news release also highlighted that there are one million wildlife vehicle collisions annually in America. When large animals are involved, these crashes can have serious consequences. The collisions result in 200 human fatalities, 26,000 injuries to motorists and their passengers, and cost the public more than $10 billion annually. These costs encompass economic losses caused by wildlife crashes such as loss of income, medical expenses, and property damage.
"We are pleased to announce the first round of grants under the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program to projects that will significantly reduce the number of collisions between motorists and wildlife," said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. "These roadway safety investments will ensure that motorists and wildlife get to their destinations safely and are a win-win for safety and the environment."
Several state departments will receive substantial amounts from this funding: The Arizona Department of Transportation is set to receive $24 million; the Wyoming Department of Transportation, $24.4 million; the Colorado Department of Transportation, $22 million; the Stillaguamish Tribe in Washington State, $8.5 million; the California Department of Transportation, $8 million; and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, $840,000. These funds will be used to develop infrastructure to mitigate wildlife crashes.
