August 14, 2024

Honorable Pete Buttigieg
U.S. Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Subject: US-93 Darby, Montana to Idaho Wildlife Crossing Feasibility Study

Dear Secretary Buttigieg,

On behalf of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, please accept this letter as written confirmation of our support for the Montana Department of Transportation’s (MDT) Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program (WCPP) discretionary grant funding application for the US-93 Darby, Montana to Idaho Wildlife Crossing Feasibility Study (study). This planning study will identify optimal wildlife accommodation locations within migration corridors to improve wildlife movements and reduce the potential for wildlife vehicle collisions (WVC). Deer and elk populations in this area are some of the highest densities in the state, and moose extensively use the riparian corridors, and bighorn sheep herds are known to occupy and cross the canyon. There are federally threatened species’ (grizzly bears, wolverines, and Canada lynx) habitats along this roadway as well. In spite of the notable populations of wildlife, there have been very minimal WVC mitigation measures deployed in this section of US-93S.

US-93 is heavily relied on by the traveling public as it provides access from the Idaho state line directly to the rural Montana towns of Sula, Conner, Darby, and 15 other towns going northward towards Missoula. Travelers driving through this area contend with significant safety risks as wildlife from the surrounding Bitterroot National Forest venture onto the roadway with blind corners and increased traffic. As such, historical WVC trends in the area have been increasing by 14 percent annually, on average, since 2013.

The analysis of data, observation of migration patterns, research into innovative wildlife accommodation technologies, along with recommendations that will be produced from this study, will greatly improve wildlife connectivity and reduce WVCs in the area. The wildlife crossings deemed most appropriate by this study to achieve these goals could provide benefits within a one to two-year period after construction, which can reduce WVCs by 80 percent with wildlife growing accustomed to the new features. Additionally, this study will be a pivotal piece to MDT’s greater effort of making improvements to US-93 from Idaho to Canada.

On behalf of the community and the traveling public of Montana, I thank you for your consideration of this important study and look forward to its swift completion.

Sincerely,

John B. Sullivan III
Chairman
Montana Chapter
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers