The Virginia General Assembly just introduced House Bill 2025 (HB2025), which aims to improve road safety for both wildlife and motorists across the Commonwealth.
“This legislation is essential to ensure our state agencies have the resources needed to address wildlife-vehicle conflicts and integrate wildlife passage into infrastructure projects. Without it, we risk wasting taxpayer dollars on roads and bridges that ignore connectivity needs, perpetuating harm to ecosystems, communities, and Virginia’s economy.” Jess Roberts, PhD, Director of Habitat Connectivity, Wild Virginia
Recent data from State Farm ranks Virginia as the ninth highest state for the risk of animal-vehicle collisions in the Nation, with drivers facing a 1 in 73 chance of such incidents.
HB2025 takes a comprehensive approach to tackle these challenges by:
- Expanding the VA Wildlife Corridor Action Plan to identify financial needs and implement initiatives to enhance wildlife movement.
- Directing the Department of Conservation and Recreation to incorporate wildlife-friendly designs into flood resilience infrastructure within the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan, ensuring dual benefits for flood mitigation and ecological connectivity.
- Requiring the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to:
○ Establish a program to implement wildlife crossings along highways.
○ Align its policies and procedures with recommendations from the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.
○ Report to the General Assembly on progress every two years.
- Mandating that all highway maintenance contracts include requirements to track wildlife carcass removal data, utilizing VDOT’s Wildlife Carcass Removal Tracking application, to identify collision hotspots and improve mitigation strategies.
Delegate Gardner chief patron of HB2025, emphasized the importance of this legislation: “HB2025 demonstrates that Virginia is committed to protecting its drivers and preserving its wildlife. By integrating innovative technologies and wildlife-friendly infrastructure, we can reduce the risks of animal-vehicle collisions while building a safer and more resilient Commonwealth.”
Key Benefits of HB2025:
- Enhancing public safety by reducing the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
- Supporting ecological connectivity through thoughtful infrastructure design.
- Improving flood resilience by aligning wildlife-friendly designs with flood protection priorities.
- Utilizing data-driven strategies to pinpoint collision hotspots to ensure we place crossings where they are most needed and effective.
“HB2025 is a win-win for people and wildlife. This bill provides a clear path toward safer roads, better ecological connectivity, and more resilient communities.” Misty Boos, US Conservation Policy Manager, Wildlands Network
HB2025 is currently under review and is expected to be heard in committee in the coming weeks. Citizens are encouraged to contact their local representatives to support this vital legislation.
Environmental organizations and sportsmen’s groups across Virginia have expressed strong support for wildlife crossing legislation. For more information on HB2025 and its potential impact, visit the Virginia Legislative Information System at https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2025.
