Keaton PetersOregon wants to make it easier for animals to safely cross highways. Lawmakers are directing state agencies to establish comprehensive wildlife corridor infrastructure projects across the state, following the passage of House Bill 2978 in the Oregon Senate in a 24-3 vote in April. The legislation requires the Oregon Department of Transportation to create crossing structures and implement other protective measures where wildlife migration paths intersect with roads and highways.
The new law updates Oregon’s existing wildlife corridor program to include specific infrastructure requirements such as overpasses, underpasses and roadway fencing. The legislation also establishes a joint advisory group between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to coordinate efforts and identify priority projects through 2033. The bill, which passed the House with bipartisan support from more than two dozen sponsors, now awaits Gov. Tina Kotek’s signature to become law.
The legislation builds on Oregon’s commitment to public safety and the conservation of big game herds that must cross highways and roads to complete their daily and seasonal cycles. Wildlife-vehicle collisions pose significant risks to both animals and Oregon drivers, with thousands of incidents reported annually across the state’s extensive road network. The new program intends to reduce these accidents by creating safe passages for wildlife while maintaining transportation efficiency and public safety.
The legislation directs the Department of Transportation to incorporate wildlife crossing features into highway design standards and create a comprehensive training program for relevant employees. The program will focus on priority areas where wildlife corridors identified in the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan intersect with existing or proposed roads.
As part of the implementation strategy, both agencies must develop a memorandum of understanding that includes collaboration on program goals, resource sharing and community outreach. The advisory group will consist of participants from federal, state, and local governments, academia, and nonprofit organizations with expertise in biology and engineering.
The program will prioritize projects that impact threatened or endangered species, ensuring mitigation measures and crossing infrastructure are included as much as possible. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife will also undertake projects supporting wildlife mobility within priority areas identified in the Oregon Connectivity Assessment and Mapping Project.
The legislation requires biennial reporting on program progress, including project timelines, cost estimates, funding strategies and the effects of implemented wildlife corridor infrastructure on collision numbers. The advisory group will meet regularly through 2033, with its mandate expiring in 2035.
Photo Courtesy
Jeffrey Beall via Wikimedia Commons
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
