Best Practices Manual: Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction Study

CHAPTER 8: WVC REDUCTION STRATEGY CHECKLIST

This manual provides a number of strategies for reducing WVCs. The relevance to readers of different sections of this manual will vary depending on the purposes and needs of the particular reader. A brief checklist is provided here for different kinds of activities related to WVC reduction.

8.1. STATEWIDE WVC REDUCTION PROGRAM

When implementing a statewide WVC reduction program, consider these actions:

Establish a multiagency coalition to oversee the program. The makeup and structure of the oversight committee should be tailored to include appropriate agencies and to most effectively integrate into the organizational structures of these agencies (section 2.1).
Determine the baseline magnitude of the problem for the State (i. e. , annual WVCs, threatened and endangered species, etc. ).
Implement a statewide data collection and monitoring plan (section 2.2).
Identify regional priority locations (section 2.3).
Establish annual goals, potential funding sources and program guidance strategy (section 2.4 and chapter 7).
Identify specific improvements/mitigations (chapters 4 and 5).
Educate State DOT staff and incorporate consideration of WVCs into the highway design process.
Establish an evaluation and monitoring program for specific mitigation implementations (chapter 6).

8.2. INCORPORATING WVC REDUCTION INTO CORRIDOR PLANNING/DESIGN

If a specific highway that is expected to have challenges with WVCs is being rehabilitated or reconstructed, or if a corridor is selected specifically for mitigating WVCs, consider the following tasks:

Identify the magnitude of the WVC problem and determine the target species for WVC reduction (section 3.1).
For existing roadways, identify locations of wildlife crossings and WVC hotspots (section 3.4).
For designing new or realigned roadways incorporate WVC considerations into the alignment selection (section 3.2).
Throughout the road design process consider designs that may minimize the potential for WVCs (section 3.3).
For WVC problem locations that cannot be avoided through alternative alignment or road design techniques, consider mitigations for the entire corridor, or at the problem locations (chapter 4 for large animal mitigations; chapter 5 for threatened and endangered species mitigations).
For the corridor project, consider alternative funding sources to increase the level at which WVCs can be mitigated (chapter 7).
Throughout the design process, try to consider ecological, development, and other interactions beyond the roadway (section 2.4).
If WVC mitigation strategies are included in the corridor, develop an evaluation plan to track the success of the mitigation (chapter 6).

8.3. SPECIFIC MITIGATIONS

If a specific mitigation is implemented independent of a highway/corridor design, refer to the information in this manual relating to the specific mitigation:

For fencing design and implementation guidance refer to section 4.2.
If an animal detection system is being considered refer to section 4.7.
For guidance on vegetation management strategies to reduce WVCs refer to section 4.8.
If wildlife culling is being considered refer to section 4.9.
If mitigating for a threatened or endangered species, refer to the mitigations in chapter 5.Many of the mitigations for large mammals provided in chapter 4 are also applicable to threatened and endangered species.
If fencing is selected as a mitigation, consider providing safe crossing opportunities through:
- Wildlife underpasses (section 4.3) and overpasses (section 4.4).
- Shared use (bicycle, pedestrian, vehicle, livestock) wildlife underpasses (section 4.5) and overpasses (section 4.6).
For the mitigation implemented, consider monitoring and evaluation (chapter 6).

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