SAVE PEOPLE SAVE WILDLIFE URGES PARK CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT SAFE WILDLIFE PASSAGE ON HIGHWAY 224 AT FEBRUARY 15 MEETING
Several supporters made a case for protecting wildlife and motorists on the 5th worst highway in Utah for collisions while nearly 1,000 letters of support were presented to Council members.
Supporters of Save People Save Wildlife (SPSW), a non-profit that advocates for reducing vehicle wildlife collisions and providing safe passage for wildlife on dangerous roadways through Summit County, presented a persuasive case to Park City Council on February 15th to protect motorists and wildlife on State Road 224 where there are nearly four vehicle wildlife collisions per mile per year. Four individuals representing SPSW, among a dozen supporters in attendance, spoke about their concerns, relaying alarming data during the public comment period. In response to Mayor Nann Worel’s previous suggestion that SPSW demonstrate community support for wildlife mitigation on SR 224, thousands of letters in favor of wildlife mitigation from Park City area residents, commuters, and businesses such as the Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau. In addition, the non-profit has raised nearly $260,000 for this cause.
The matter was brought to City Council’s attention last week due to time sensitivity in advance of this year’s Council’s strategic planning meetings. The federal infrastructure bill has funding devoted specifically to wildlife connectivity, such as the crossing that is needed in this location. Save People Save Wildlife supporters urged the Council and Mayor to include this in their 2024 strategic plan as the grant application deadline for federal funds is August 1.
While addressing the Mayor and Council, Save People Save Wildlife President Erin Ferguson, said, “Our community is speaking with their letters demanding safe passage for wildlife-and they are speaking with their donation dollars as well…The community wants safe passage for wildlife on SR 224 to be a priority for Park City-the passion of the community indicates a call to action. We have thousands of letters indicating concerns for wildlife safety, connecting the surrounding areas of open space we have set aside, and concerns about the road widening…It is time sensitive in terms of funding opportunities over the next three years…we need to compete for these federal funds, so we may implement wildlife connectivity.”
A 2019 study commissioned by UDOT Division of Research and Innovation and funded by UDOT Division of Traffic Safety, identified the top 25 highways in Utah for vehicle wildlife collisions. SR 224 was identified as fifth worst with 2.97 vehicle wildlife collisions per mile per year. A more recent study commissioned by UDOT Region 2 and performed by BIO-WEST showed SR 224 experiences 4.11 vehicle wildlife collisions per mile per year. The cost of those vehicle collisions from 2010 to 2020 was $7.5 million.
It’s not just a safety issue, but an economic one. Tom Farkas, Save People Save Wildlife’s Treasurer reminded the Mayor and City Council, “Based on the $7.5 million cost of vehicle wildlife collisions between 2010 and 2020, between now and the 2034 Olympics, we could see another $7.5 million in senseless vehicle wildlife collision costs if a crossing is not in place…The high number of vehicle-wildlife collisions warrants that SR 224 be a high priority. The high cost of those vehicle wildlife collisions warrants that SR 224 be a high priority. The level of community support warrants that SR 224 be a high priority.”
An estimated 30,000 vehicles per day travel to and from Park City on Highway 224. This number is anticipated to increase with population growth, more construction traffic due to the redevelopment of area ski resorts, and the return of the Olympics in 2034. Wildlife mitigation measures have proven to be 90 percent effective in reducing collisions. Building a crossing will save money and lives in the long run.
In her statement to City Council and the Mayor, Lorelei Combs, Vice President of Save People Save Wildlife, said, “Now is the time to place wildlife crossings on SR 224. This is your opportunity to show the world that Park City is a model mountain town…adhering to environmental sustainability for now and for the future.” She also spoke of the concerns raised by commissioners at last September’s Utah Transportation Commission’s meeting in Duchesne, during which it was acknowledged that appropriate wildlife mitigation steps were never taken during SR 224’s transformation from a quiet, country road to a thoroughfare of a major resort town.
Save People Save Wildlife’s efforts have been successful in reducing the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour, adding warning signs and animal silhouettes along SR 224. Unfortunately, this is not sufficient to reduce accidents, making a wildlife crossing a necessary. For more information about safe wildlife passage on SR 224, visit https://savepeoplesavewildlife.org/sr-224/.
