Adirondack Artificial Ecological Passages

Abstract

To enhance road safety for motorists and wildlife in the Adirondack Park, we analyzed deer-vehicle collision data from the New York State Department of Transportation to identify potential locations for artificial ecological passages (AEPs), culverts and bridges specifically designed to allow mammals to cross roads. In the U.S., wildlife-vehicle collisions result in approximately 200 deaths, 26,000 injuries, and $8 billion in damages annually, with New York reporting 65,000 deer-vehicle collisions (DVC) alone. We located the road segments with the greatest number of deer collisions and assessed the characteristics of these road segments and the nearby land cover, using the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) data set and the National Land Cover Database. We examined the potential placement and type of AEPs, factoring in topography, hydrography, and existing structures for passage site selection, favoring infrastructure upgrades over new construction. The twenty road segments with the highest collision rate include sections of Interstate 87, Route 3, and Route 28, as well as areas near Saranac Lake and Old Forge. Increased AADT was positively correlated with the number of DVCs with most DVCs occurring on road segments with speed limits of 25 to 45 mph. Dominant land cover around these road segments is primarily evergreen and deciduous forests. Along these twenty road segments, we were able to locate a number of potential sites for culvert expansion or bridge repurposing and for newly constructed passage structures. Implementing these changes could significantly reduce park collisions, fatalities, and financial losses.