Wildlife Vehicle Collisions Data Gathering and Best Management Practices Part 2

Wildlife vehicular collisions (WVCs) pose inherent threats to wildlife populations and human safety throughout the State. Roads create barriers that reduce free movements of wildlife species. Plymouth State University Wildlife Vehicle Collisions Data Gathering and Best Management Practices Study (Part 1) has synthesized the available data about WVCs in NH and developed a statistical model to analyze road, temporal, and wildlife specific factors that contribute to areas with more collisions. The study found positive relationships between WVCs and local road density, which corresponds to population centers within the state. However, it also revealed that there is more variability and less predictability in the data than was expected. This research will refine the model and complete on-the-ground research to identify some hot spots where mitigation should be considered in New Hampshire. The proposed research includes: Continuing data analysis from Part 1 of the project; Using cameras, wildlife tracking, or roadkill surveys to evaluate the presence of wildlife and analyze the data to identify locations for WVC mitigation projects; Investigating the 23 USC 171: Wildlife crossings pilot program and make recommendations to the Technical Advisory Group; Developing a guidance document for Wildlife Crossing Best Management Practices (BMPs); and Facilitating a meeting to include NHDOT personnel from Operations, Project Development and NH F&G to workshop a crossing project proposal. The project could result in design features to mitigate WVCs in the vicinity of WVC hot spots and future stand-alone projects to reduce WVCs. The BMP manual could lead to reduced WVCs throughout New Hampshire, providing a safer travelling environment for drivers and for wildlife.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $180,000
• Contract Numbers:

  42372P

• Sponsor Organizations:

  New Hampshire Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Research
  Box 483, 5 Hazen Drive
  Concord, NH  United States  03302-0483
• Managing Organizations:

  New Hampshire Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Research
  Box 483, 5 Hazen Drive
  Concord, NH  United States  03302-0483
• Project Managers:

  Nash, Deirdre

• Performing Organizations:

  Plymouth State University

  17 High Street
  Plymouth, NH  United States  03264
• Principal Investigators:

  Villamanga, Amy

• Start Date: 20230101
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; High risk locations; Traffic crashes; Wildlife crossings
• Geographic Terms: New Hampshire
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01867112
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 42372P
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 13 2022 3:57PM