Making Way for Wildlife: Announcing the Federal Highway Administration's First Round of Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program Grants

Photo by Ron Sutherland

In a time when human development and wildlife needs often find themselves at odds, the emergence of wildlife crossing infrastructure as an innovative conservation solution has fostered community-driven action and bipartisanship at all governmental levels in recent years. The success rate of these structures (sometimes reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions by over 90%) and the related cost savings have made wildlife crossings a preferred conservation tool that lawmakers have been eager to support.

The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program

In 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which created the first discretionary transportation grant program completely dedicated to funding these projects, meaning that wildlife crossing projects no longer had to compete for funding against other priority transportation projects. This new Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program will provide $350 million over five years to states, federal agencies, tribal nations, and other eligible applicants interested in studying the need for and constructing wildlife crossings within their jurisdictions.  

Celebrations and Concerns

The first round of grant awards under this new program were announced today, doling out roughly $112 million to applicants across the nation, making the demand for this dedicated funding clear. After almost two years of waiting for grant applications to open, roughly 60 applicants requested over $500 million in project funding for a program that only has $350 million to spend over five years. “Leading up to the announcement today, we had been hearing from applicants that their emotions were running very high as they anxiously waited to hear whether their projects were funded,” said Erin Sito, US Public Policy Director for Wildlands Network. “Though everyone we have talked to is generally excited and grateful that this funding finally exists, there are still concerns that there is not enough funding to go around given the backlog of need and popularity of this program.”

This new grant opportunity was created as a pilot program so lawmakers could determine the level of interest and need before committing to a permanently funded Federal Highway Administration program. Since the program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, the interest and need have been clear. In addition to the influx of funding requests the agency received this round, states, tribes, and other eligible applicants under the program have shown interest by taking meaningful steps to prepare for this grant opportunity. For example, organizations like the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society have been convening tribal working groups to provide technical assistance and support to tribes interested in applying.

Additionally, since this program was created, at least 12 states have passed 20 pieces of legislation to support wildlife crossing infrastructure development. These states have also collectively committed an estimated $240 million over the past two years to fund this type of infrastructure development, making it clear that, across the landscape, the interest and need are strong. “We are hopeful that this demand will lead to a permanent and more robustly funded federal wildlife crossing grant program in the future,” said Sito.

2023 Winners

Some of the first big pilot program grant winners announced were Colorado, Arizona, and Wyoming, all received over $20 million for construction grants to finish and support planned wildlife under and overpasses. Having provided application support for the overpass proposed on I-17 in Arizona, Wildlands Network is celebrating this exciting announcement.

Grants were also awarded to states needing further studies to decide where best to construct wildlife crossings. Virginia was the first state to announce that it had won such a study grant. Wildlands Network was also thrilled to see Virginia’s win, having organized the application support letter and having worked to advance Virginia wildlife corridor legislation and projects within the commonwealth over the past several years. This grant will help improve the data informing Virginia’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.

“Gathering data to analyze where best to site these projects is incredibly important, so we are thrilled that the pilot program is additionally funding non-construction projects to help collect this information,” said Ron Sutherland, Chief scientist for Wildlands Network. "As the Pilot Program continues to unfold, we hope more states will use collision data, connectivity models, and actual GPS tracks of migrating animals to map out the best opportunities for building new wildlife overpasses and underpasses."

 The full list of winners can be found here.

Program Background

Leading up to the creation of the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, Wildlands Network convened experts in the fields of wildlife biology and transportation planning to design a grant program and related provisions to tackle the wildlife-vehicle collision issue at the federal level, through the U.S. Department of Transportation action. We then successfully cultivated bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and House for the infrastructure bill’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program by bringing together and leveraging the collective wisdom of our partners at ARC Solutions, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, National Parks Conservation Association, and many others.

Why Wildlife Crossings Matter

1. They Reduce Wildlife Mortality: One of the primary benefits of wildlife crossings is their potential to significantly reduce the number of animals killed on roads. Collisions between vehicles and wildlife pose threats to both human safety and animal populations. By providing safe passages for animals, these crossings can save countless lives on both sides of the road. 

2. They Enhance Habitat Connectivity: Roads and highways often act as barriers to wildlife movement, leading to isolated populations and limiting genetic diversity. Wildlife crossings serve as vital links, allowing animals to access essential habitats, find mates, and disperse, promoting healthier ecosystems in the long run.

3. They Conserve Biodiversity: Habitat fragmentation and loss are major contributors to the decline of biodiversity worldwide. Wildlife crossings address this issue directly by preserving natural migration routes and enabling wildlife to move freely across landscapes, supporting diverse ecosystems.

4. They Have Additional Economic Benefits: Beyond their ecological advantages, wildlife crossings can have positive economic impacts. By reducing the occurrence of wildlife-vehicle collisions, these structures minimize property damage, medical costs, and insurance claims, ultimately saving communities money.
    

Contacts:        
Erin Sito, JD, U.S. Public Policy Director, Wildlands Network
E.sito@wildlandsnetwork.org

Ron Sutherland, PhD, Chief Scientist, Wildlands Network
Ron@wildlandsnetwork.org