Details:

Creators:
Dodd, Norris L. ; Gagnon, Jeffrey W. ; Boe, Susan ; Ogren, Kari ; Schweinsburg, Raymond E.
Dodd, Norris L. ; Gagnon, Jeffrey W. ; Boe, Susan ; Ogren, Kari ; Schweinsburg, Raymond E. Less -
Corporate Creators:
Arizona. Game and Fish Dept. Research Branch
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Deer
Elk
Traffic Safety And Wildlife--Research
Underpasses
Wildlife Crossings
Collisions
Economic Benefits
Evaluation And Assessment
Telemetry
Traffic Volume

Publication/ Report Number:
FHWA-AZ-12-603
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Arizona
Edition:
Final report.
Corporate Publisher:
Arizona. Dept. of Transportation. Research Center
NTL Classification:
NTL-ECONOMICS AND FINANCE-Economic Impacts ; NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Bridges and Structures ; NTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway Safety ;
Abstract:
Researchers investigated wildlife-highway relationships in central Arizona from 2002 to 2008 along a 17-mile stretch

of State Route (SR) 260, which is being reconstructed in five phases and will have 11 wildlife underpasses and

6 bridges. Phased reconstruction allowed researchers to use a before-after-control experimental approach to their

research. The objectives of the project were to:

 Assess and compare wildlife use of underpasses (UPs)

 Evaluate highway permeability and wildlife movements among reconstruction classes

 Characterize wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) patterns and changes with reconstruction

 Assess relationships among traffic volume and WVCs, wildlife crossing patterns, and UP use

 Assess the role of ungulate-proof fencing with WVCs, wildlife UP use, and wildlife permeability

Researchers used video surveillance to assess and compare wildlife use of six UPs, at which 15,134 animals and 11

species were recorded; 67.5 percent crossed through UPs. Modeling found that UP structure type and placement was

the most important factor influencing the probability of successful crossings by elk (Cervus elaphus) and Coues whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Researchers used Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry tracking of 100 elk

and 13 white-tailed deer to assess and compare permeability. Elk permeability on reconstructed sections was 39

percent lower than controls, while deer permeability was 433 percent higher on reconstructed sections. The elkvehicle collision (EVC) rate on fenced reconstructed sections was the same as before-reconstruction levels, but on

unfenced sections the EVC rate was nearly four times higher. In addition to a safer and more environmentally friendly

highway, the economic benefit from reduced EVCs on SR 260 averaged $2 million/year since the completion of

three reconstructed highway sections.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:60bd7dbe9ef66a0eed13767c77684639752b5de92901f8fbb9dd37773f0d6fa4
File Type:

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