Vehicle Collision Mitigation Phase II - Determining Effectiveness of Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Mitigation Projects Phase II

The research is aimed at estimating passage rates or relative use of crossing structures for large mammals and identify other wildlife species using crossings at constructed and planned wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation projects for a 2-3 year period. In instances where fencing will be constructed during the study, the research team will compare use of crossing structures over time to evaluate the effectiveness of the fencing. The specific objectives of this study are to: Compare wildlife passage rates or relative use of crossings with studies done in other western states; Identify infrastructure shortcomings or other factors that contribute to low passage rates or low relative use rates; Collate and review wildlife-vehicle collision and carcass collection data to determine the effectiveness of constructed projects in reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, or at least document baseline wildlife-vehicle collision rates for planned projects; Create a guide for designing effective wildlife crossings and for improving existing drainage structures for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus elaphus), black bear (Ursus americanus) and Mountain lion (Puma concolor).

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Phase One: Completed (2017 – 2020) - Final Report: R917034 Phase Two: Current (2020 – 2029) Phase II has been extended to 10/31/29. Due to delays in the Raton Pass construction project and the Cuba Animal Detection System, both of which may directly impact AZGFD’s evaluation ability, Phase II has been extended.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $217,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  R920050

  IG004-2

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  New Mexico Department of Transportation

  1120 Cerrillos Road
  P.O. Box 1149
  Sante Fe, NM  United States  87504-1149

  Arizona Game and Fish Department

  2221 West Greenway Road
  Phoenix, AZ  United States  85023-4399
• Principal Investigators:

  Loberger, Chad

  Gagnon, Jeff

• Start Date: 20200206
• Expected Completion Date: 20291031
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animal vehicle crashes; Highway design; Traffic safety; Wildlife crossings
• Geographic Terms: New Mexico
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01962488
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New Mexico Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: R920050, IG004-2
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 4 2025 5:51PM