New Colorado Wildlife Crossing Shines as Bipartisan Case Study

New Colorado Wildlife Crossing Shines as Bipartisan Case Study

Legislators touring a recently opened land bridge over a major interstate highway learn about the safety and environmental benefits of the crossings.

The Greenland Wildlife Overpass, completed in December last year, connects 39,000 acres of habitat and wildlife corridors on both sides of Interstate 25 south of Denver. (Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

State legislators from across the country gathered in Colorado in May for an NCSL meeting and site visit to the Greenland Wildlife Overpass, one of the nation's largest wildlife crossings. The bipartisan event brought together lawmakers to explore how states are approaching wildlife crossings as tools to improve transportation safety, support habitat connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Located along Interstate 25 between Denver and Colorado Springs, the recently completed land bridge covers 42,000 square feet and allows wildlife to safely cross over a major transportation corridor while reducing collisions between motorists and animals.

The $15 million project served as a real-world case study for discussions about planning, funding, implementation and interagency collaboration.

Officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state Department of Transportation and Douglas County shared insights on the development of the crossing, its anticipated benefits and the partnerships required to bring the project to fruition.

Following the site visit, legislators participated in educational programming featuring national and state perspectives on wildlife connectivity. Speakers from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership discussed state wildlife crossing legislative trends, habitat connectivity and state approaches to funding and implementation.

A panel of legislators highlighted recent state actions on wildlife crossings and provided firsthand perspectives on policy options that states may consider. Utah Rep. Scott Chew discussed his role as lead sponsor of legislation (HB 431) creating the Wildlife Crossing Account within Utah's Transportation Investment Fund. The law provides an annual appropriation of $2 million from sales tax revenue to support wildlife crossing projects.

Colorado Sen. Dylan Roberts spoke about a bill (SB 141) signed into law in his state the day before the event. The bipartisan legislation authorizes an optional vehicle registration fee dedicated to wildlife collision prevention and wildlife conservation efforts. Revenue from the fee will support both a newly created collision prevention fund and Colorado Parks and Wildlife programs.

Throughout the event, legislators exchanged ideas about wildlife crossings, transportation safety and habitat connectivity. Discussions highlighted the broad range of stakeholders engaged in these efforts, including transportation agencies, wildlife managers, local governments, outdoor sporting organizations, conservation groups and insurers.

Participants left with new perspectives on how states are approaching wildlife crossings and related infrastructure investments. The event also illuminated the bipartisan nature of the issue, with lawmakers noting that wildlife connectivity projects often bring together coalitions that aren't always on the same side of policy discussions.

Tom Klein is a policy associate in NCSL's Environment, Energy and Transportation Program.

Greenland Wildlife Overpass Facts

• Construction cost: $15 million
• Size: 41,800 square feet
• Location: I-25 at mile point 165.4, about 50 miles south of Denver

Source: Colorado Department of Transportation