Why is this study being done?
MoDOT is committed to the safety of the traveling public. Data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) shows there were almost 35,000 reported wildlife vehicle collisions (WVCs) on MoDOT-owned and maintained routes between 2014 and 2023. This number increases to almost 40,000 when county and municipal routes are included. The overall goal of the study is to conduct a statewide multi-species analysis to develop, refine and prioritize recommendations to address WVC hotspots in Missouri. Mitigation measures will ensure the safety of the traveling public.
What will be done with the results of the study?
Results, data, and the final report obtained from the study will be used to integrate into MoDOT’s project planning process to develop, design, permit, and construct WVC mitigation projects in Missouri, with the overall project goal of reducing WVCs statewide while promoting roadway safety. Additionally, projects identified with this study could be eligible for specific funding with additional FHWA Wildlife Crossing Program funds or other alternative funding sources.
Study Process
The study was setup as a two phased approach. Phase one focuses on analysis of available datasets to understand current and future conditions, identify and rank WVC sites, and create a list of statewide wildlife-animal crossing needs. Phase two will develop evaluation criteria for prioritizing WVCs, alternatives analysis, recommended mitigation, and provide opportunity for public comment. The draft final report will combine the results and include an executive summary, public comments summary, final prioritized recommended projects, and appendices. The final report will include final revisions based on the Technical Advisory Committee’s comments.
Has a study like this ever been done before in Missouri?
No, this is a novel study for Missouri looking to understand the critical issue of WVCs statewide.
What will the results of the study do?
Results from the study will provide MoDOT another tool to evaluate potential safety improvements to projects.
How are WVCs currently tracked?
Missouri WVCs are tracked and recorded by MSHP crash reports. Additionally, MoDOT records wildlife-vehicle collisions carcass data through customer reports of roadway concerns (e.g. dead animals on roadway) calls. MoDOT is currently working to develop a Roadkill reporting survey using ArcGIS Survey123 modeled off of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation's Roadkill Observation and Data System (ROaDS) for mapping and evaluating roadkill records.