Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program aims to make roads safer for drivers and animals alike.
Washington, D.C. – In a move hailed by conservationists and road safety advocates, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched an ambitious new Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. This $350 million initiative will fund the construction of overpasses, underpasses, and specialized tunnels to allow animals to safely cross roads and highways across the nation.
The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program aims to tackle the alarming rise in wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) plaguing American roads. According to DOT data, over 1 million such accidents occur annually, resulting in 200 human fatalities, over 26,000 injuries, and an economic toll exceeding $8 billion in vehicle damage, medical costs, and other expenses.
“These sobering statistics underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve road safety for both humans and animals,” stated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Wildlife crossings have proven effective at reducing collisions while promoting healthy wildlife movement and habitat connectivity.”
See also: Canopy Bridges – Wildlife Bridges in the Trees.
Beyond the immediate dangers of vehicle collisions and roadkill, roads can have far-reaching and detrimental impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. The construction of roads often fragments and divides large, continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches. This habitat fragmentation can disrupt the vital movement corridors that many animal species rely on to access essential resources like food, water sources, and breeding grounds.
When these movement corridors are severed by roads, the ability of animals to migrate, disperse, and gene flow between different populations is severely hindered. This isolation and loss of connectivity can lead to degraded ecosystem health and function. Fragmented habitats support fewer species and have lower biodiversity compared to large, intact habitats. The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program is intended to mitigate many of these challenges.
Smaller, isolated populations are also more vulnerable to local extinction events caused by factors like disease, natural disasters, or inbreeding depression from reduced gene flow. The loss of species can initiate a cascade of ecological impacts, further destabilizing the ecosystem. Roads can thereby drive the decline and potential extinction of vulnerable species by isolating and fragmenting their habitats.
Moreover, roads introduce other stressors like noise, light, and chemical pollution that can extend far into surrounding habitats, compounding the disturbance caused by habitat fragmentation. Preserving connected landscapes and maintaining functional wildlife corridors across road networks is crucial for sustaining healthy, resilient ecosystems and preventing biodiversity loss.
The effectiveness of programs like the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program has been demonstrated in Florida, which has one of the largest such programs in the nation. Since installing over 100 crossings along major roadways, the state has seen WVCs plummet by over 90% in areas with the structures.
“Our iconic Florida panther was headed towards extinction due to vehicle strikes and habitat fragmentation from roads,” said Carolyn Washburn, Vice Chair of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Coalition. “Wildlife crossings have played a pivotal role in the species’ ongoing recovery by allowing safe passage across highways.”
The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program takes inspiration from such success stories as it aims to construct safe wildlife corridors nationwide. Through competitive grants, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program will strategically distribute funding for crossings in areas identified as WVC hotspots. At least 60% of the $350 million must go to projects in rural regions where animals are most prevalent.
“We’ll work closely with state and local partners to prioritize projects based on data pinpointing road segments with high collision rates and significant wildlife populations,” said Nicole Nason, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
Wildlife bridges in urban areas will also be eligible for funding from the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, helping foxes, coyotes, deer, and other species navigate between fragmented natural spaces.
“Intact migration corridors are essential for healthy, genetically diverse wildlife populations,” stated Dr. Jeff Opperman, Global Lead Freshwater Scientist at the World Wildlife Fund. “This visionary program can help species adapt to climate change by allowing movement to new suitable habitats.”
Some critics have voiced concerns about the upfront costs of constructing elaborate wildlife crossings. However, many experts argue the investment pays for itself through reduced collisions, lower insurance premiums, and preserving healthy ecosystems that provide invaluable services like flood control and recreation opportunities.
As the most substantive federal investment in wildlife corridors to date, the WCPP represents a major milestone for road ecology and environmental preservation. If successful, it could inspire similar initiatives worldwide to make transportation infrastructure safer and more permeable for the planet’s diverse fauna.
