We need to create ways for Nature and Humans to coexist peacefully where possible. Wildlife corridors or migratory pathways enable wildlife to safely transverse the motor vehicle pathways of this country. This is good for human safety and property. This is also good for animal safety, and biodiversity. I call that a win-win!
PBS made a program called “Wild Ways: Corridors of Life”
Example of a wildlife corridor:
COST:
I know that we’re in a bad place financially. However, this idea will help with cost of roadkill collisions - which apparently is approximately $8 billion per year. It also gives us the opportunity to reinvest in American infrastructure, which creates jobs and gets money flowing within our own country. Infrastructure projects tend to last a long time, and as with the Eisenhower Interstate Highway system, it could be a real feather in the cap of the Administration. So, with that in mind, I’m hoping this may receive some political support as well.
How do we know they work? 
How do wildlife know to use animal bridges and crossings? - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
POLICY PROPOSAL
I am proposing one of a few paths forward. The next section refers to a Tribal Nations bill that is on the Senate floor. It also refers to a program that was part of the Inflation Reduction Act (everyone’s favorite 
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One possibility is to evaluate these pre-existing programs in the next section, and if they are worthy of it, have the next Administration lend its support. Of course, if this pre-existing framework is flawed and not worthy of support, please consider a better way forward.
A better way forward may be to consult the Yukon to Yellowstone initiative which is grander in scope. It seeks to create a large migratory corridor from Northern Canada all the way along the spine of the Rockies to Central America. This initiative has a lot of experience working with private landowners, which is very important. There’s more on this initiative further down in the policy 
PRE-EXISTING LEGISLATION, AND NATIVE AMERICAN COLLABORATION:
There is already a bill in the Senate, the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act ( HR 5179, S2891) introduced by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D- NM). Apparently (see links below), 20 of the Tribal Nations support this framework. Beyond the infrastructure changes to our country, I really like the idea of partnering with America’s Native Tribes to do this work. Particularly, it appears that the Native Tribes of New Mexico have been trying to get wildlife corridors established. New Mexico is a blue state, so it may also provide an opportunity for some bi-partisan work which I think will be extremely important for a Trump administration.
Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act established a competitive grant program, wildlife crossings pilot program, and New Mexico applied. However, they were required to match the funds and they were unable to do so. The US government would not waive the match (see all the links below). I’m also proposing doing better connecting the Tribal Nations with support from the Federal government (if the work is worthy of the support, of course).
Here are the relevant links
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Tribal Wildlife Corridors Bill: https://www.lujan.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Tribal-Wildlife-Corridors-Act.pdf
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Senate Bill from Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2705/text
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Press Release on Legislation: Luján Introduces Legislation to Protect Tribal Wildlife Corridors and Support Wildlife Management Efforts - Senator Ben Ray Luján
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Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program:
https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/wildlife-crossings/pilot-program -
New Mexico cannot match funds from the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program: These Tribes Are Building Crossings to Save Wildlife From Becoming Roadkill – Mother Jones
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Habitat Connectivity:
https://www.nafws.org/initiatives/tribal-wildlife-corridors/
RFKJ & NATIVE AMERICAN POLICY:
One of the saddest things for me that resulted from RFKJ’s suspended campaign was the subsequent loss of his policy concerning indigenous Americans (which can be found here).
Rather than see that entirely lost, maybe this would be a way to involve the Tribes in this next administration. Apparently, the bill had support from approximately 20 of the Tribal Nations, as well as support from other members of Congress. As stated in the article linked above,
"‘There has been a historic lack of equity in natural resource conservation funding for tribes, even though tribes manage millions of acres of wildlife habitat,’ said Garrit Voggesser, tribal partnerships director for the National Wildlife Federation. ‘Representative Gallego and Senator Luján’s leadership in introducing the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act is an important step to recognizing the significant role tribes play in protecting wildlife and providing much needed resources to bolster their conservation efforts.’”
A CASE STUDY: BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Several underpasses were built in the 1980s, and the first overpasses were constructed in 1996-7. Today, over 88 kilometers (55 miles) of twinned Trans-Canada Highway in Banff and Yoho National Parks, there are now 48 crossing structures, including 41 underpasses, seven overpasses, and accompanying highway fencing throughout to keep wildlife off the road. The concrete tunnels arching over the highway look like pretty much any other bridge. But what motorists can’t see is the second highway right above the arches, a grassy bridge carrying the area’s wildlife safely across the roadway. Since their installation, the crossings have reduced collisions by 80 percent, with deer and elk seeing the greatest benefit with a reduction of 96 percent.
The Gold Standard is Banff National Park in Canada: Wildlife crossing structures and research - Banff National Park
Finally, Banff is a part of an even greater project: the wildlife migratory corridor from Yukon to Yellowstone. Here’s a brief video explanation of the idea: x.com
CONCLUSION/IMPORTANT LINKS:
It seems that much of the data that could intelligently guide these public projects has already been gathered. Additionally, there are case studies that could be examined, such as Banff National Park. Those wildlife corridors have been around since the 1980’s and 1990’s, so the data is extensive. Funds don’t have to spent without the guidance of good data on efficacy, best engineering options, etc. Finally, the opportunity to collaborate with the Tribal Nations is a good step, although there’s much more needed on the reservations. At least, I’m hoping the next administration will be willing to review the data that I’ve provided here.
USDA: Highway Crossing Structures for Wildlife
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IMPORTANT LINKS
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YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON: https://y2y.net
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Additional Case Studies: Connectivity Conservation
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Dec 2023, The Hill Article: https://thehill.com/regulation/transportation/4344110-us-grants-110-million-to-improve-wildlife-road-crossings/