The funding will support projects that reduce the risk of vehicle-wildlife collisions and improve habitat connectivity.
A ‘first-of-its-kind’ federal program aims to improve road safety and habitat connectivity for wildlife, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
“The program, which was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, previewed at the White House Conservation in Action Summit last month, and will be administered by the Federal Highway Administration, makes grant funding available to states and communities to construct wildlife crossings over or below busy roads, add warning signs for drivers, acquire mapping and tracking tools, and more.”
Around 200 people and countless animals are killed in vehicle crashes every year in the United States. The program is part of the new Safe System Approach called for in the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) issued by USDOT in 2022. “The projects funded by the Wildlife Crossings pilot program will improve the overall safety of the traveling public and reduce the economic drain caused by wildlife crashes (such as loss of income, medical costs, property damage, and decline in productivity and quality of life), while simultaneously supporting species survival.”
USDOT Awards New Round of Safe Streets Grants
Over 200 cities and towns will receive $82 million for Complete Streets and other road safety planning and demonstration programs.
Wildlife Crossings as Key Infrastructure
Animal-vehicle collisions cause billions in property damage, hundreds of human deaths, and dramatic losses in animal populations every year. Monitoring migration and building for animals can make roads safer for everyone.
Save Lives on Our Roads Using the Safe System Approach
Prioritizing safety and committing to the SSA framework can make a big impact in the effort to reduce traffic fatalities.
Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness
An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.
Reimagining Your Street
How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.
Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty
Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.
Washington Lawmakers Eye Rent Stabilization
Democrats are pushing for a statewide rent stabilization bill that would give renters some protections while offering more flexibility for landlords than blanket rent control policies.
Wildfires Devastate LA Outdoor Education Spaces and Schools
The current Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed schools and outdoor education spaces like Eaton Canyon, displacing families and disrupting vital learning and community resources while highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’
Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA)
Ada County Highway District
Charles County Government
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland