Common Trends in Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions 89 percent of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Wildlife-vehicle Collision Mitigation in New Mexico

Jim Hirsch Environmental Bureau - NMDOT

• 89 percent of wildlife-vehicle collisions

(WVCs) occur on two-lane low-volume roads.

• WVCs occur more frequently in the

early morning (5–9 a.m.) and evening (4 p.m.–12 a.m.).

• WVCs occur more frequently in spring

and fall.

• Most reported WVCs involve deer (as

high as 90 percent in some states).

Common Trends in Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions

• > 95% of WVC result in

property damage only.

• The estimated annual cost

associated with WVCs is $8.3 billion.

• $1,840 in vehicle repair costs.
• $2,702 in medical costs.
• $125 in towing and law

enforcement services.

• Costs increase substantially if

a vehicle collides with a larger animal (such as an elk or moose).

Costs Associated with Wildlife-vehicle Collisions (WVC)

U.S. 550 Deer Fencing Project Animas River to Colorado

BEFORE AFTER Photos by Mark Watson

House Joint Memorial 3 (2003)

CRITICAL RISK AREAS · Tijeras Canyon/ I-40, Bernalillo Co. (District 3). · San Augustine Pass/ U.S. 70, Dona Ana Co., (District 1). · Raton Pass/ I-25, Colfax Co., (District 4) · Burro Mtns./Tyrone/ NM 90, Grant Co., (District 1).

HIGH RISK AREAS · U.S. 84/ Tierra Amarilla to Colorado Border, Rio Arriba Co., (District 5). · I-25/Las Vegas to Glorieta, San Miguel and Santa Fe Counties, (Districts 4-5). · Abo Pass/ U.S. 60 (includes railroad), Torrance and Valencia Counties, (District 5). · NM 126/ Forest Road 12 (Jemez Mnts.), Sandoval Co., (District 6). · U.S. 54 from Ancho to Duran, Lincoln Co., (Districts 2, 5). · Cloudcroft to Mayhill, U.S. 82 and NM 130, Otero Co., (District 2). · Ruidoso area: U.S. 70 Hondo Valley from Ruidoso Downs to Riverside; NM 48 from Alto to Capitan; NM 37 from Angus to Nogal, Lincoln Co., (District 2). · Taos Canyon/ U.S. 64 (esp. Palo Flechado Pass/La Jara Canyon area), Taos Co., (District 5). · La Bajada/ I-25, Sandoval and Santa Fe Counties, (District 5). · I-10 through Steins Pass/Peloncillos Mtns., Hidalgo Co., (District 1). · U.S. 550 Animas River to Colorado Border, San Juan Co., (District 5). · U.S. 64 Farmington to Shiprock, San Juan Co., (District 5).

Critical Mass Results

Tijeras Canyon Safe Passage Project (2008)

3 drainage crossings and 2 at-grade crossings.

I-40 Game Fence Projects at Zuzax and Edgewood (2010)

Other Past Collision Mitigation Projects

• House Joint Memorial 10 (2011)

– NMDOT, NMDGF & NM State Police – US 64/84 between Tierra Amarilla and Chama – Vegetation control and illuminated warning signs

• US 64 Game Fence Project near Lumberton (2012)

– Done in conjunction with roadway reconstruction

• US 54 Game Fence Project at Corona

– Stand alone project with no passage (1 ¾ miles)

House Memorial 1, Senate Memorial 11 (2013)

• Directed NMDOT and NMDGF to host a

workshop to identify priority road segments for future wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation measures

• At least one Highway Safety Improvement

Program (HSIP) application must be submitted in 2014

House Memorial 1, Senate Memorial 11 (2013)

• 49 participants
• State Police surveyed
• 32 priority segments

across NM identified for further investigations

• Trend data was

considered

• Field visits conducted in

each district

• Two HSIP applications

were submitted in 2014

NMDOT District 5 2013 Priority Areas

Future Wildlife Collision Mitigation Projects

I-25 Raton

US 550 Cuba

From P. Cramer 2012