MDT is an awardee of the FY 2024WCPP grant for its US-93 Darby, Montana to Idaho Wildlife Crossing Feasibility Study.
MDT is an awardee of the FY 2023 WCPP grant for its I-90 Missoula to Garrison Feasibility Study.
Overview
The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program included $350 million for FYs 2022 through 2026. For the FY 2024/2025 cycle, $145 million were available, and for the FY 2026 cycle, approximately $80 million was set aside for funding. Not less than 60 percent of grant funds were awarded to projects located in rural areas. Eligible projects included the following:
Non-Construction:
- Research on safety innovations to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions (WVC).
- Research and monitoring on the effectiveness of WVC mitigation.
- Development of mapping tools to document WVCs.
- Analysis of WVC impacts and best practices to reduce WVCs.
- Planning studies to identify terrestrial and aquatic wildlife migrations corridors and roadway barriers to habitat that lead to WVCs.
- Outreach activities to educate the public on WVC hazards.
Construction:
- Design and pre-construction of an underpass or overpass for wildlife passage.
- Environmental permitting and ROW acquisition to construct a wildlife crossing structure.
- Adaptation or replacement of a culvert or bridge structure to accommodate connectivity for terrestrial species that are experiencing WVCs.
- Construction of a wildlife overpass or underpass and fencing.
- Preservation or restoration of habitat necessary to secure the effectiveness of a crossing project.
- Construction of multiple crossing structures in an area to connect habitat for terrestrial or aquatic species.
FY 2024-2026 Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) Release Date: June 6, 2024; FY 2026 NOFO is being amended and its release is TBD
FY 2024-2025 Submission Date: September 4, 2024
FY 2026 Submission Date: TBD
For additional detailed information, please see the U.S. DOT WCPP Grant Program Webpage.
WCPP Grant Applications Submitted by MDT
| Grant Application Name | Project Type | Grant Application Description | Approximate Amount Requested |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024-2025 Applications | |||
| Cougar Creek Bridge Replacement and Wildlife Accommodations Project | Construction | Replacement of the Cougar Creek bridge and the adjacent recreational bridge, with a design to improve terrestrial and aquatic habitat connectivity. Project includes wildlife accommodations. | $6,580,000 |
| US-93 Darby to Idaho Feasibility Study | Planning | Investigative study to plan for wildlife crossings that will optimize the reduction of WVCs while providing the safest passage for wildlife across 30 miles on US-93 between Darby and the Montana border with Idaho. | $424,242 |
| Mouth of Gallatin Canyon Wildlife Crossing Project | Construction | This project will construct wildlife accommodations to include a wildlife overpass, bridge/riparian retrofit reconfigurations, cattle guards, fencing, and jumpouts along a section of US-191 north of Big Sky. | $14,100,000 |
| FY 2022-2023 Applications | |||
| Cougar Creek Bridge Replacement and Wildlife Accommodations Project | Construction | Replacement of the Cougar Creek bridge and the adjacent recreational bridge, with a design to improve terrestrial and aquatic habitat connectivity. Project includes wildlife accommodations. | $6,700,000 |
| I-90 Missoula to Garrison Feasibility Study | Planning | Investigative study to plan for wildlife crossings that will optimize the reduction of WVCs while providing the safest passage for wildlife across 68 miles on I-90 between Missoula and Garrison. | $424,000 |