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Jackson Hole Highway: A Mitigation Assessment for Animal Movement and Animal-Vehicle Collisions

Started: April, 2011 Ended: December, 2011 Project ID #4W3520 Status: Completed

Results & Findings

WTI evaluated three highways in Jackson Hole outside of Grand Teton National Park to assess the best locations for wildlife crossing mitigation.

Objective

This study aims to identify and prioritize locations along three proposed Wyoming highway expansion segments that are important for wildlife and make recommendations for mitigation measures aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and providing safe crossing opportunities for wildlife.

Abstract

Several highways in the Jackson Hole area may be widened from 2-lane roads to 5-lane roads. These highway widening projects seek to improve motorist safety and transportation efficiency, but they are also likely to be associated with a further increase in traffic volume and vehicle speeds. Wider roads, higher traffic volume, and higher vehicle speeds lead to an increased impact on wildlife, including their habitat and movements across the landscape. While it has been found that widening lanes and shoulders on rural highways leads to safer roads, it also increases wildlife-vehicle collisions. This project will evaluate 3 highway segments in the Jackson Hole area to develop potential sites where recommendations for wildlife mitigation measures may prove to be the most useful, It will also conduct an economic cost-benefit analysis for wildlife-vehicle collisions and potential mitigation measures at each site.

Contacts

Files & Documents

Sponsors & Partners

  • Jackson Hole Coservation Alliance Sponsor
  • Safe Wildlife Crossing Group Co-Sponsor
  • Teton County Co-Sponsor
  • City of Jackson Co-Sponsor
  • U.S. Forest Service (FS) Co-Sponsor
  • Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) Co-Sponsor
  • Wyoming Fish and Game Department Co-Sponsor

Related Information

Part of: Road Ecology, Systems Engineering Development & Integration

Project Tagged In: cost-benefit analysis, wildlife crossing structure, wildlife vehicle collisions

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