Georgia – The State of Georgia has been given about $2.2 million in federal grants meant to lower fatal wildlife-vehicle collisions in a major step towards improving road safety and safeguarding endangered species. Announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the funding is part of a strategic attempt to solve the frequent and often deadly interactions between wildlife and motorists on Georgia’s highways.
The grant was allocated by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program designed to integrate important measures that avoid wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity inside the state’s transportation project planning and construction phases. This project is the first of its kind, particularly for rural areas where such events are more often and aimed particularly at establishing safer travel routes for both people and animals.
Over one million wildlife-vehicle incidents happen annually throughout the United States, resulting in almost 200 human deaths and injury to 26,000 more drivers and passengers. With the U.S. Department of Transportation citing an annual cost of around $10 billion, the economic impact of these incidents is staggering. This amount highlights the immediate need for practical solutions since it includes property damage, medical bills, and missed income.
“Too many Americans are injured or killed each year in crashes involving cars and wildlife, especially in rural areas—which is why our Department created the first-ever program dedicated to crossings that make roads and highways safer for both humans and wildlife,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a press release form earlier this month.
“With funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the projects moving forward in 16 states will reduce collisions between drivers and wildlife, create places for wildlife to safely move over and under highways, and help preserve American life and property.”
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The award will let the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) create a sophisticated wildlife crossing prioritizing tool. This creative tool will assist continuous monitoring and educational activities on animal crossings, provide thorough analyses of data on wildlife-vehicle collisions, and encourage early integration of habitat connectivity issues in project development.
“Safety is FHWA’s top priority, and these roadway safety investments will ensure that motorists and wildlife get to their destinations safely while advancing a safe, efficient transportation system that benefits all road users as well as the environment,” said Acting Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Gloria M. Shepherd.
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As Georgia begins to implement these measures, the expected outcomes include a significant reduction in wildlife-related crashes, safer travel for rural commuters, and a boost in conservation efforts aimed at preserving Georgia’s diverse wildlife habitats. This all-encompassing strategy not only solves current safety issues but also helps the ecological and human populations of the state to be sustainable long term.
