Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity

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General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(358)
Former Study Number:
Lead Organization: Nevada Department of Transportation
Contract Start Date: Dec 13, 2020
Solicitation Number: 1438
Partners: Parks Canada / Government of Canada, AK, AZDOT, CA, CO, FHWA, IADOT, MI, MN, NM, NV, Ontario MOT, OR, WA
Status: Contract signed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2022
Contract End Date: Sep 30, 2022
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $900,000.00
Suggested Contribution:
Total Commitments Received: $1,275,000.00
100% SP&R Approval: Approved
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Ken Chambers
kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
Phone: 775- 888-7220
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Daniel Buford
daniel.buford@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-8168
Study Champion(s): Nova Simpson
nsimpson@dot.nv.gov
Phone: 775- 888-7035
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2017 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2018 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2019 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2020 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin
Arizona Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada
Arizona Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada
Arizona Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada
Arizona Department of Transportation 2020 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada
Arizona Department of Transportation 2021 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada
California Department of Transportation 2017 $40,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le
California Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le
California Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le
California Department of Transportation 2020 $70,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le
Colorado Department of Transportation $0.00
Federal Highway Administration $0.00
Iowa Department of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- --
Iowa Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- --
Iowa Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- --
Iowa Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- --
Iowa Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- --
Michigan Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Amanda Novak Andre' Clover
Michigan Department of Transportation 2021 $40,000.00 Amanda Novak Andre' Clover
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen
Nevada Department of Transportation 2017 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers
Nevada Department of Transportation 2018 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers
Nevada Department of Transportation 2019 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers
Nevada Department of Transportation 2020 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers
Nevada Department of Transportation 2021 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers
New Mexico Department of Transportation 2019 $80,000.00 Tamara Haas Tamara Haas
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok
Oregon Department of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino
Oregon Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino
Oregon Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino
Oregon Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino
Oregon Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino
Parks Canada / Government of Canada 2019 $30,000.00 Kerry Buckley Kerry Buckley
Parks Canada / Government of Canada 2020 $30,000.00 Kerry Buckley Kerry Buckley
Parks Canada / Government of Canada 2021 $30,000.00 Kerry Buckley Kerry Buckley
Washington State Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson
Washington State Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson
Washington State Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson
Washington State Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson

Study Description

Wildlife vehicle collisions (WVCs) have become an increasingly larger component of overall crashes nationally, while at the same time local populations of wildlife, both large and small, have suffered restrictions to their safe movement across roads. While there are several proven mitigation measures that significantly reduce WVCs, provide safe wildlife passage, and maintain habitat connectivity, there are many new technologies or improvements to old mitigation measures that may help reduce mitigation costs. For example, established infrastructure measures such as overpasses and underpasses with fencing can reduce large animal WVCs by over 85% on average; yet these projects can be costly and don’t always take into account the many crashes that involve smaller animal species, such as reptiles and amphibians. Thus, there is room for improvement and additional knowledge. The Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity pooled fund study will seek to identify cost-effective solutions that integrate highway safety and mobility with wildlife conservation and habitat connectivity. Therefore, evaluating new technologies and improvements to traditional measures, as well as corresponding costs. The results of this PFS are predicted to assist state and federal transportation, land management, and wildlife agencies in optimizing efforts to reduce WVCs. This PFS is proposed to be a collaborative research project through the Transportation Pooled Fund Program. This project will build upon the efforts of the public and private partnerships built between the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Western Transportation Institute – Montana State University (WTI), and ARC (Animal Road Crossings) Solutions, www.arc-solutions.org. Participating entities will identify and select nationally and regionally important mitigation measures and projects for evaluation.

Objectives

1. Explore the effectiveness of new mitigation measures intended to increase driver awareness and decrease collisions with large mammals such as deer, elk, and moose. There are an estimated 1-2 million collisions with large mammals each year in the U.S., and the direct costs to society can be as high as $6-12 billion per year. There have been many developments in animal detection-driver warning systems. These are ideal at-grade solutions and are most often deployed on 2-lane rural highways. Other technologies that could be evaluated are on-board animal detection and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) systems. Another emerging technology is radar speed guns linked to variable message signs. There are many other emerging technologies that states and their partners may find of interest. 2. Evaluate improvements to traditional mitigation measures and quantify the effectiveness of those improvements in reducing WVCs. Signage and messaging, reflectors, noise makers, educational campaigns, citizen involvement, structural solutions such as under- and overpasses and associated fencing and escape ramps (a.k.a. jump-outs), and other mitigation measures that may have received modernization or improvements in recent years should be re-evaluated. For example, the Illumination of roadways has been a traditional measure to increase driver visibility, but has not necessarily been aimed at reducing WVCs. With new lighting techniques available, lighting systems may be evaluated for effectiveness at reducing WVCs. Similarly, new innovations in overpass technologies, such as the use of geosynthetically reinforced soil technologies and alternative fill materials like geofoam, may result in increased effectiveness because of improved sound attenuation. The Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity pooled fund study will select mitigation measures from this category to evaluate. 3. Assess the mitigation needs and measures for particular species of conservation interest. Often there is little known about species of conservation concern and their interaction with roads and when and how to create safe passage for these species. This project will select those species of conservation concern for which information is most urgently needed by transportation agencies and its partners, particularly for species of regional or national importance.

Scope of Work

The scope is proposed to include the following items, and will be guided by the technical advisory committee: 1. Develop, select and provide support for priority research of new wildlife mitigation solutions. 2. Explore and encourage collaboration for research and implementation of wildlife mitigation measures by state DOTs, land management agencies, wildlife agencies and their partners. 3. Convene an annual meeting of the Pooled Fund’s Technical Advisory Committee and invited guests.

Comments

Schedule: The duration of the project is 5 years, to begin with the execution of a contract with a project management team. Funding: Participating state DOTs, land management, wildlife, and Canadian agencies or other partners will be expected to commit, at minimum, a level of funding that would cover their organization’s estimated share of project expenses. This would include travel for a project representative to an annual meeting, management of the various research and outreach efforts, and a proportional share of any development costs. These costs are estimated to be between $20,000 to 40,000 per year. For those organizations that would like to contribute to a lesser extent, or for a particular task during the duration of the project, they will not need to have a representative attend the annual meeting of the TAC to guide the pooled fund study or select tasks. A minimum of five (5) state DOTs or other partners contributing an average of $20,000 per year would provide sufficient base funding of $500,000 to support the proposed initial scope of work. Additional funding beyond the minimum from would enable additional projects to be executed.

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Type Privacy Download
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 7: Long-Term Responses of an Ecological Community to Highway Mitigation Measures 701-18-803 TO 7 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 6 Part 2: Wildlife Barriers: The Effectiveness of Electrified Barriers to Keep Large Mammals Out of Fenced Road Corridors 701-18-803 TO 6 Pt 2 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 6 Part 1: Wildlife Barriers: Modified Jump-Outs for White-Tailed Deer and Mule Deer 701-18-803 TO 6 Pt 1 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 5 Part 2: Incorporating Deer and Turtle Total Value in Collision Mitigation Benefit-Cost Calculations 701-18-803 TO5 Pt 2 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 5 Part 1: Cost Effective Solutions: Incorporating Wildlife Passive Use Values in Collision Mitigation Benefit-Cost Calculations 701-18-803 TO5 Pt 1 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 4: A Comparison of Elk-Vehicle Collision Patterns with Demographic and Abundance Data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains 701-18-803 TO 4 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 3: A Before-After-Control-Impact Study of Wildlife Fencing Along a Highway in the Canadian Rocky Mountains 701-18-803TO3 Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 2 Part 3: Improving Connectivity: Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Structures for Wildlife, Bicyclists, and/or Pedestrians Final Report 701-18-803 TO 2 Pt 3 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 2 Part 2: Improving Connectivity: Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Structures for Wildlife, Bicyclists, and/or Pedestrians 701-18-803 TO 2 Pt 2 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 2 Part 1: Improving Connectivity: Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Structures for Wildlife, Bicyclists, and/or Pedestrians 701-18-803 TO 2 Pt 1 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 4: Cost Effective Solutions: Animal Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity Final Report 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 4 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 3: Cost Effective Solutions: Cost-Benefit Analyses of Mitigation Measures Along Highways for Large Animal Species: An Update and an Expansion of the 2009 Model 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 3 WTI Cost-Benefit Analysis.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 2: Cost Effective Solutions: Best Practices Manual to Reduce Animal-Vehicle Collisions and Provide Habitat Connectivity for Wildlife 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 2 WTI Best Practices Manual.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 1: Cost Effective Solutions: Literature Review 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 1 WTI Literature Review.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: Final Report 700-18-803 Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: Practices, Partnerships, and Next Steps 700-18-803 Final Report - Practices, Partnerships, Next Steps.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: A Manual for Agencies and Partners 700-18-803 Final Report - Manual.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: 2019 Annual Report 700-18-803 2019 Annual Report.pdf Annual Report Public
Final Report USGS 200-20-803: Internal Structural Cover and Ledges Facilitate the Use of Large Underpasses by Multiple Wildlife Species and Groups 200-20-803 USGS Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report USGS 342-20-803: Research to Inform Passage Spacing for Migratory Amphibians and to Evaluate Efficacy and Designs for Open Elevated Road Segment (ERS) Passages 342-20-803 USGS Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
2022 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - Final 2022 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - Final.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2022 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2022 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2022 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2022 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 4th Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 4th Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 3rd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 4th Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 4th Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 3rd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 4th Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 4th Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 3rd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Solicitation and Guidelines PFS Solicitation and Guidelines.pdf Request for Proposals Public
TPF-5(358) Acceptance Letter TPF-5(358) Acceptance Letter.pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Approval Letter Approval of SP&R Waiver Pooled Fund Solicitation #1438.pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Request #1438 Waiver Request Letter 8-23-2017.pdf Other Public

No document attached.

Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity

General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(358)
Lead Organization: Nevada Department of Transportation
Contract Start Date: Dec 13, 2020
Solicitation Number: 1438
Partners: Parks Canada / Government of Canada, AK, AZDOT, CA, CO, FHWA, IADOT, MI, MN, NM, NV, Ontario MOT, OR, WA
Status: Contract signed
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2022
Contract End Date: Sep 30, 2022
Financial Summary
Contract Amount: $900,000.00
Total Commitments Received: $1,275,000.00
100% SP&R Approval:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Ken Chambers
kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
Phone: 775- 888-7220
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Daniel Buford
daniel.buford@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-8168
Commitments by Organizations
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2017 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin (907)269-6208 anna.bosin@alaska.gov
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2018 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin (907)269-6208 anna.bosin@alaska.gov
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2019 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin (907)269-6208 anna.bosin@alaska.gov
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2020 $20,000.00 Jon Knowles Anna Bosin (907)269-6208 anna.bosin@alaska.gov
Arizona Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada (602) 712-8316 aringorestrada@azdot.gov
Arizona Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada (602) 712-8316 aringorestrada@azdot.gov
Arizona Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada (602) 712-8316 aringorestrada@azdot.gov
Arizona Department of Transportation 2020 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada (602) 712-8316 aringorestrada@azdot.gov
Arizona Department of Transportation 2021 $25,000.00 Justin White Angela Estrada (602) 712-8316 aringorestrada@azdot.gov
California Department of Transportation 2017 $40,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le (916)701-3998 sang.le@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le (916)701-3998 sang.le@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le (916)701-3998 sang.le@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2020 $70,000.00 Amy Golden Sang Le (916)701-3998 sang.le@dot.ca.gov
Iowa Department of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- -- -- Transfer.Research@iowadot.us
Iowa Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- -- -- Transfer.Research@iowadot.us
Iowa Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- -- -- Transfer.Research@iowadot.us
Iowa Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- -- -- Transfer.Research@iowadot.us
Iowa Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Steve Gent -- -- -- Transfer.Research@iowadot.us
Michigan Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Amanda Novak Andre' Clover 517-749-9001 clovera@michigan.gov
Michigan Department of Transportation 2021 $40,000.00 Amanda Novak Andre' Clover 517-749-9001 clovera@michigan.gov
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Christopher Smith Lisa Jansen 651-366-3779 lisa.jansen@state.mn.us
Nevada Department of Transportation 2017 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers (775) 888-7220 kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
Nevada Department of Transportation 2018 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers (775) 888-7220 kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
Nevada Department of Transportation 2019 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers (775) 888-7220 kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
Nevada Department of Transportation 2020 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers (775) 888-7220 kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
Nevada Department of Transportation 2021 $50,000.00 Nova Simpson Ken Chambers (775) 888-7220 kchambers@dot.state.nv.us
New Mexico Department of Transportation 2019 $80,000.00 Tamara Haas Tamara Haas (505) 795-2126 TAMARAP.HAAS@STATE.NM.US
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok (416) 235-4680 Max.Perchanok@ontario.ca
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok (416) 235-4680 Max.Perchanok@ontario.ca
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok (416) 235-4680 Max.Perchanok@ontario.ca
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok (416) 235-4680 Max.Perchanok@ontario.ca
Ontario Ministry of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Max Perchanok Max Perchanok (416) 235-4680 Max.Perchanok@ontario.ca
Oregon Department of Transportation 2017 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino 503-986-2845 Michael.Bufalino@odot.oregon.gov
Oregon Department of Transportation 2018 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino 503-986-2845 Michael.Bufalino@odot.oregon.gov
Oregon Department of Transportation 2019 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino 503-986-2845 Michael.Bufalino@odot.oregon.gov
Oregon Department of Transportation 2020 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino 503-986-2845 Michael.Bufalino@odot.oregon.gov
Oregon Department of Transportation 2021 $20,000.00 Cidney Bowman Michael Bufalino 503-986-2845 Michael.Bufalino@odot.oregon.gov
Parks Canada / Government of Canada 2019 $30,000.00 Kerry Buckley Kerry Buckley 819-420-9546 kerry.buckley@canada.ca
Parks Canada / Government of Canada 2020 $30,000.00 Kerry Buckley Kerry Buckley 819-420-9546 kerry.buckley@canada.ca
Parks Canada / Government of Canada 2021 $30,000.00 Kerry Buckley Kerry Buckley 819-420-9546 kerry.buckley@canada.ca
Washington State Department of Transportation 2018 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson 360-705-7499 peterjn@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2019 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson 360-705-7499 peterjn@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2020 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson 360-705-7499 peterjn@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2021 $10,000.00 Glen Kalisz Jon Peterson 360-705-7499 peterjn@wsdot.wa.gov

Study Description

Study Description

Wildlife vehicle collisions (WVCs) have become an increasingly larger component of overall crashes nationally, while at the same time local populations of wildlife, both large and small, have suffered restrictions to their safe movement across roads. While there are several proven mitigation measures that significantly reduce WVCs, provide safe wildlife passage, and maintain habitat connectivity, there are many new technologies or improvements to old mitigation measures that may help reduce mitigation costs. For example, established infrastructure measures such as overpasses and underpasses with fencing can reduce large animal WVCs by over 85% on average; yet these projects can be costly and don’t always take into account the many crashes that involve smaller animal species, such as reptiles and amphibians. Thus, there is room for improvement and additional knowledge. The Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity pooled fund study will seek to identify cost-effective solutions that integrate highway safety and mobility with wildlife conservation and habitat connectivity. Therefore, evaluating new technologies and improvements to traditional measures, as well as corresponding costs. The results of this PFS are predicted to assist state and federal transportation, land management, and wildlife agencies in optimizing efforts to reduce WVCs. This PFS is proposed to be a collaborative research project through the Transportation Pooled Fund Program. This project will build upon the efforts of the public and private partnerships built between the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Western Transportation Institute – Montana State University (WTI), and ARC (Animal Road Crossings) Solutions, www.arc-solutions.org. Participating entities will identify and select nationally and regionally important mitigation measures and projects for evaluation.

Objectives

1. Explore the effectiveness of new mitigation measures intended to increase driver awareness and decrease collisions with large mammals such as deer, elk, and moose. There are an estimated 1-2 million collisions with large mammals each year in the U.S., and the direct costs to society can be as high as $6-12 billion per year. There have been many developments in animal detection-driver warning systems. These are ideal at-grade solutions and are most often deployed on 2-lane rural highways. Other technologies that could be evaluated are on-board animal detection and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) systems. Another emerging technology is radar speed guns linked to variable message signs. There are many other emerging technologies that states and their partners may find of interest. 2. Evaluate improvements to traditional mitigation measures and quantify the effectiveness of those improvements in reducing WVCs. Signage and messaging, reflectors, noise makers, educational campaigns, citizen involvement, structural solutions such as under- and overpasses and associated fencing and escape ramps (a.k.a. jump-outs), and other mitigation measures that may have received modernization or improvements in recent years should be re-evaluated. For example, the Illumination of roadways has been a traditional measure to increase driver visibility, but has not necessarily been aimed at reducing WVCs. With new lighting techniques available, lighting systems may be evaluated for effectiveness at reducing WVCs. Similarly, new innovations in overpass technologies, such as the use of geosynthetically reinforced soil technologies and alternative fill materials like geofoam, may result in increased effectiveness because of improved sound attenuation. The Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity pooled fund study will select mitigation measures from this category to evaluate. 3. Assess the mitigation needs and measures for particular species of conservation interest. Often there is little known about species of conservation concern and their interaction with roads and when and how to create safe passage for these species. This project will select those species of conservation concern for which information is most urgently needed by transportation agencies and its partners, particularly for species of regional or national importance.

Scope of Work

The scope is proposed to include the following items, and will be guided by the technical advisory committee: 1. Develop, select and provide support for priority research of new wildlife mitigation solutions. 2. Explore and encourage collaboration for research and implementation of wildlife mitigation measures by state DOTs, land management agencies, wildlife agencies and their partners. 3. Convene an annual meeting of the Pooled Fund’s Technical Advisory Committee and invited guests.

Comments

Schedule: The duration of the project is 5 years, to begin with the execution of a contract with a project management team. Funding: Participating state DOTs, land management, wildlife, and Canadian agencies or other partners will be expected to commit, at minimum, a level of funding that would cover their organization’s estimated share of project expenses. This would include travel for a project representative to an annual meeting, management of the various research and outreach efforts, and a proportional share of any development costs. These costs are estimated to be between $20,000 to 40,000 per year. For those organizations that would like to contribute to a lesser extent, or for a particular task during the duration of the project, they will not need to have a representative attend the annual meeting of the TAC to guide the pooled fund study or select tasks. A minimum of five (5) state DOTs or other partners contributing an average of $20,000 per year would provide sufficient base funding of $500,000 to support the proposed initial scope of work. Additional funding beyond the minimum from would enable additional projects to be executed.

Title File/Link Type Private
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: 2019 Annual Report 700-18-803 2019 Annual Report.pdf Annual Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 5 Part 1: Cost Effective Solutions: Incorporating Wildlife Passive Use Values in Collision Mitigation Benefit-Cost Calculations 701-18-803 TO5 Pt 1 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 2 Part 1: Improving Connectivity: Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Structures for Wildlife, Bicyclists, and/or Pedestrians 701-18-803 TO 2 Pt 1 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 5 Part 2: Incorporating Deer and Turtle Total Value in Collision Mitigation Benefit-Cost Calculations 701-18-803 TO5 Pt 2 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 4: A Comparison of Elk-Vehicle Collision Patterns with Demographic and Abundance Data in the Central Canadian Rocky Mountains 701-18-803 TO 4 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 1: Cost Effective Solutions: Literature Review 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 1 WTI Literature Review.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: Practices, Partnerships, and Next Steps 700-18-803 Final Report - Practices, Partnerships, Next Steps.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: Final Report 700-18-803 Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report Cramer 700-18-803: Integration of Wildlife Mitigation into Transportation Procedures: A Manual for Agencies and Partners 700-18-803 Final Report - Manual.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 2 Part 2: Improving Connectivity: Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Structures for Wildlife, Bicyclists, and/or Pedestrians 701-18-803 TO 2 Pt 2 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 3: A Before-After-Control-Impact Study of Wildlife Fencing Along a Highway in the Canadian Rocky Mountains 701-18-803TO3 Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 7: Long-Term Responses of an Ecological Community to Highway Mitigation Measures 701-18-803 TO 7 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report USGS 342-20-803: Research to Inform Passage Spacing for Migratory Amphibians and to Evaluate Efficacy and Designs for Open Elevated Road Segment (ERS) Passages 342-20-803 USGS Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report USGS 200-20-803: Internal Structural Cover and Ledges Facilitate the Use of Large Underpasses by Multiple Wildlife Species and Groups 200-20-803 USGS Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 6 Part 1: Wildlife Barriers: Modified Jump-Outs for White-Tailed Deer and Mule Deer 701-18-803 TO 6 Pt 1 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 2 Part 3: Improving Connectivity: Innovative Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Structures for Wildlife, Bicyclists, and/or Pedestrians Final Report 701-18-803 TO 2 Pt 3 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 2: Cost Effective Solutions: Best Practices Manual to Reduce Animal-Vehicle Collisions and Provide Habitat Connectivity for Wildlife 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 2 WTI Best Practices Manual.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 3: Cost Effective Solutions: Cost-Benefit Analyses of Mitigation Measures Along Highways for Large Animal Species: An Update and an Expansion of the 2009 Model 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 3 WTI Cost-Benefit Analysis.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 1 Part 4: Cost Effective Solutions: Animal Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity Final Report 701-18-803 TO 1 Pt 4 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Final Report WTI 701-18-803 TO 6 Part 2: Wildlife Barriers: The Effectiveness of Electrified Barriers to Keep Large Mammals Out of Fenced Road Corridors 701-18-803 TO 6 Pt 2 WTI Final Report.pdf Final Report Public
Waiver Approval Letter Approval of SP&R Waiver Pooled Fund Solicitation #1438.pdf Memorandum Public
TPF-5(358) Acceptance Letter TPF-5(358) Acceptance Letter.pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Request #1438 Waiver Request Letter 8-23-2017.pdf Other Public
2019 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 3rd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2019 4th Quarter Progress Reports - All 2019 4th Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 3rd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2020 4th Quarter Progress Reports - All 2020 4th Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 3rd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2021 4th Quarter Progress Reports - All 2021 4th Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2022 1st Quarter Progress Reports - All 2022 1st Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2022 2nd Quarter Progress Reports - All 2022 2nd Quarter Progress Reports.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
2022 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - Final 2022 3rd Quarter Progress Reports - Final.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Solicitation and Guidelines PFS Solicitation and Guidelines.pdf Request for Proposals Public
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