By Editor Josh Mitchell
River Mississippi News
MISSOURI and KENTUCKY– Two River Mississippi Territory states, Missouri and Kentucky, are among 17 states nationally selected for a federal pilot program to improve driver safety related to highway wildlife crashes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration this week announced $110 million in grants for 19 wildlife crossing projects in 17 states, including four Indian Tribes.
The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program is part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and can pay for wildlife crossings, fencing and mapping tools.
More than one million vehicle crashes with wildlife are estimated to happen each year in the U.S., causing approximately 200 human fatalities and 26,000 injuries.
A Missouri Department of Transporation news release says the Show-Me State ranks 10th nationally for potential wildlife collisions.
Missouri drivers had 3,699 crashes involving a deer last year, a rate of one deer strike about every 2 hours and 20 minutes in the state, accounting for five deaths and over 400 people injured, MoDOT reports.
Kentucky will receive $1.2 million to develop its first wildlife vehicle collision reduction plan. A report showing Kentucky’s 2022 vehicle-deer collision by county can be found at kentucky.gov.
Missouri will receive $320,000 to identify wildlife vehicle collision hot spots and develop mitigation measures.
Full project details on all 17 states and their grant amounts can be found on the Federal Highway Administration’s website.
