I-25 Raton Pass Wildlife Collision Mitigation Study

About the Project

The purpose of the Raton Pass Wildlife Crossings Study is to evaluate potential wildlife crossing solutions for the Raton Pass area to prevent wildlife vehicle collisions (WVCs).

The Raton Pass area is a segment of Interstate 25 between mile point 0 and 14. The area has been identified as a prioritization corridor for the implementation of wildlife vehicle mitigation. The first phase of this study evaluated wildlife activity from mile point 0 to 11.

Impact to Humans

WVCs are associated with costs of $66.3 million annually in medical expenses in the state of Colorado (Colorado Wildlife and Transportation Alliance, 2023).

Impact to Wildlife

Based on CDOT’s WVC data in the I-25 Raton Pass corridor, about 17% of the WVCs are elk, 54% are deer, and 20% are black bears.

To learn more about the study objectives, location, and history, refer to the Introduction and History document.

An example of an underpass under I-25.
An example of an underpass under I-25. Underpasses can use existing drainage systems.

Schedule & Important Dates

August 2023 through March 2024

  • Phase 1 of the Report
    • Evaluate I-25 from Mile Post 0 to 11
    • Develop conceptual design for crossing solutions for I-25 from Mile Point 0 to 11
    • Prioritize project ideas

February 21 through March 30, 2024

  • Study Open House and Public Meeting
  • Public Feedback

April 2024 to August 2024

  • Pursue grant funding opportunity to fund one project within the corridor

August 2024 through March 2025

  • Phase 2 of the Report
    • Evaluate I-25 from Mile Point 11 to 14
    • Develop conceptual design for crossing solutions for I-25 from Mile Point 11 to 14
    • Provide framework to pursue funding for design and construction

2026 and beyond

  • Pursue grant funding opportunities
  • Fund all projects along the corridor

An underpass for wildlife to cross underneath the road. This underpass is paired with fencing to direct wildlife towards the tunnel underneath the roadway.

An underpass for wildlife to cross underneath the road. This underpass is paired with fencing to direct wildlife towards the tunnel underneath the roadway.

An example of an overpass that bridges over the road with a fence alongside it to encourage wildlife to cross over.An example of an overpass that bridges over the road with a fence alongside it to encourage wildlife to cross over.

 Project Benefits
  • Decrease negative financial impact on drivers from WVC
  • Increase survival of species typically involved in WVC
  • Increase motorist safety in the corridor

In addition to crossings, other options being considered include fencing, deer guards, static and dynamic warning signs and systems, speed limit changes, and other policy-related ideas.

 Study Stakeholders

Stakeholders have been involved in the Raton Pass Wildlife Crossings Study to help screen and prioritize locations in the project corridor for which to implement wildlife crossing systems, and to identify which of the top solutions to advance.

 Project Stakeholders
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)
  • Colorado State University (CSU)
  • Pueblo City of Trinidad Las Animas County
  • Fishers Peak State Park
  • Colorado State Patrol (CSP)
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF)
  • New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)
  • Citizens
 Key Findings

Development

To develop a comprehensive list of potential mitigation strategies, the design team researched, brainstormed and interviewed interviewed CDOT engineers and biologists who have studied and built wildlife crossings. The project then screened the potential mitigation strategies using a scoring table.

Potential Solutions
Underpasses, overpasses and wildlife fences have been used for wildlife crossing solutions at other locations in Colorado. The study is evaluating which solutions would work best for the locations along the corridor considering effectiveness, cost and geography.

 Prioritization

The study then prioritized the potential solutions so the most effective and beneficial projects would be built first. To prioritize the projects, the design team used a scoring table that compared the projects using the following:

  • WVC (Wildlife vehicle collisions)
  • Cost
  • Benefit Cost Analysis
  • Environment
  • Disruption to Traffic
  • Right-of-Way Impacts
  • Maintenance Access
  • Compatibility with Development

To learn more about how the study prioritized solutions, refer to the Prioritization Memo.

 Next Steps

The study is ongoing and has several upcoming steps:

  • Phase 2 of the Report:
    • The study will now be looking at I-25 from Mile Point 11 to 14 and evaluating potential animal crossing solutions.
  • Conceptual Design:
    • The study will begin conceptual design for 2-3 potential crossing solutions in the area evaluated from Mile Point 0 to 11.
  • Pursue Funding:
    • The study will provide a framework for CDOT to pursue funding for design and/or construction.