KYTC receives more than $1 million to make drivers & wildlife safer

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KBSI) – Kentucky is one of 17 states receiving a federal grant aimed at making roadways safer for people and wildlife. The $1.2 million grant funds a wildlife-vehicle collision reduction plan and a pilot study to identify links between crashes and environmental factors.  

The Wildlife Crossings Program grant was issued to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that gave funding to states for infrastructure projects that improve safety and quality of life, according to KYTC.  

KYTC submitted the grant with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to develop Kentucky’s first Wildlife-Vehicle Collision (WVC) Reduction Plan, identify crash factors and potential solutions and reduce collisions. A pilot corridor study will evaluate U.S. 60 and Interstate 64 segments between Louisville and Frankfort. Data will be collected to identify areas where road expansions and high traffic volumes intersect with wildlife habitats and migration routes, according to KYTC.

“Encounters with deer and other wildlife occur frequently along the I-64 corridor between Louisville and Frankfort making this an excellent focal point for this project,” said Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Rich Storm.

Last year there were approximately 3,000 reported deer collisions statewide.  

In addition to issuing annual “Antler Alerts” every fall to warn drivers of the likelihood of encountering deer, KYTC also plans on installing over 1,000 deer crossing signs along select routes and reduced mowing to minimize freshly cut grass along the interstate, which commonly attracts deer.

The study and plan are expected to begin in the summer of 2024.