USDOT Federal Grant Program Will Fund Wildlife Crossings

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.”