DCHC MPO Wildlife Crossing Planning Study 

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is developing a wildlife crossing plan for its planning area with the goal of eliminating wildlife-vehicle crashes. This study will identify, evaluate, and make recommendations to improve road crossings for consideration in local and state transportation planning (SPOT, TIP, and STIP) and MPO planning (CTP and MTP).  The planning area includes identified wildlife corridors and waterways where wildlife lives and migrates. Transportation infrastructure projects that do not accommodate wildlife migration, combined with population growth in the area, have contributed to a high rate of animal wildlife-vehicle crashes. The DCHC MPO is conducting this study to identify transportation improvements in the MPO area to help protect the natural environment while also prioritizing safety, economic impacts, and loss of life. 

The DCHC MPO held a public engagement period for its Wildlife Crossing Planning Study and draft Wildlife Crossings Plan between October 1 – 21, 2024.  Engagement opportunities included eight events held throughout the MPO’s planning area, and an online and print survey to gather feedback on the draft plan. 

The study team would like to thank the public, local agencies, and Core Technical Team members for participating in this planning process.  An analysis of the public survey results received, and a final plan for consideration, is anticipated to be presented to the DCHC MPO Technical Committee and Policy Board in Fall 2024.

DCHC MPO Technical Committee and Policy Board meeting dates and agendas can be found on the MPO’s website.  Both Technical Committee and Policy Board meetings are open to the public and are held at: Central Pines Regional Council, 4307 Emperor Blvd, Durham, NC 27703.  Recordings of these meetings are available on the MPO’s YouTube channel.

Map of Wildlife Crossing Project Recommendations

Contact

For more information and to request addition to the study’s email notification list, please contact:

David Miller, Transportation Planner
(919) 503-4118
david.miller@dchcmpo.org

Madeline Galliano, Transportation Planner
(919) 503-4120
madeline.galliano@dchcmpo.org

Credits

• Projected AWDT Animal-Vehicle Crash Rate and Current Animal-Vehicle Crash Rate [layers] created by Mike Vann with the University of North Carolina Highways Safety Research Center with data provided by DCHC MPO.
• Wildlands Network Wildlife Cores and Wildlife Corridors [layers] provided by the Wildlands Network.
• NC Route Characteristics [layer] provided by NCDOT.
• MPO Project Sites [layer] created by Madeline Galliano with the DCHC MPO.