Wildlife crossings can help reduce animal-vehicle collisions, which cause more than 200 human fatalities and more than 26,000 injuries each year. (Adobe Stock) Listen to the report HERE. By Nadia Ramlagan June 3, 2021 Charleston, W.Va. – Wildlife crossings such as green bridges or other structures that allow animals to cross roadways safely have been shown to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Lawmakers, […]
Wildlife Crossing – Bridge over a highway in forest
Wildlife crossings can help reduce animal-vehicle collisions, which cause more than 200 human fatalities and more than 26,000 injuries each year. (Adobe Stock)
Charleston, W.Va. – Wildlife crossings such as green bridges or other structures that allow animals to cross roadways safely have been shown to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Lawmakers, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito – R-WV, have allocated $350 million toward a pilot wildlife-crossings program as part of the recently unveiled Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act.
The bill, which also authorizes more than $300 billion for upgrades to highways, roads and bridges nationwide, currently sits with the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation Infrastructure.
Leahy said West Virginia’s rich outdoor heritage and hunting and fishing economy depend on habitat connections that wildlife crossings ensure aren’t lost to road development.
“The infrastructure bill includes funding for research, on how to reduce those collisions and what the best methods and tools are,” said Leahy. “It includes training for workers on how to build the projects that reduce those collisions.”
West Virginia’s outdoor recreation industry generates more than $3 billion annually and contributes to more than 91,000 jobs.
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