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California Spends Big to Minimize Roadkill
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June 23, 2009
California Spends Big to Minimize Roadkill
From the Redding Record-Searchlight:
A rural stretch of Highway 3 in Siskiyou County [in northern California] is about to go high-tech in an effort to keep deer, mountain lions, bears and elk out of the path of oncoming traffic.
This summer, highway crews will begin work installing a series of cameras, radar sensors and signs over a one-mile stretch of the highway near Fort Jones.
If a deer or other large animal crosses the path of one of the interconnecting radar beams, an electronic signal triggers lights attached to deer-crossing signs.
The lights flash to warn motorists of the danger possibly standing in their path, said Ian Turnbull, chief of the intelligent transportation systems and support at the California Department of Transportation's Redding office.
Motorists strike at least 60 deer a year in that particular five-mile stretch of Highway 3.
"That is a particularly bad deer-kill area," Turnbull said. "It is one of the worst in the district. There's also a group of folks in the Fort Jones area who were concerned about it. They were actually talking about putting up their own warning sings."
But it won't just be deer that will be tracked by the sensors. Turnbull said motion-activated radar and video will track the speed of oncoming cars to see if the flashing lights actually cause motorists to slow down.
Caltrans paid $168,054 for the project's deer-tracking infrastructure. The car-tracking technology is provided by the California PATH (Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways) program.
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Comments (13)
I've seen that set-up in the midwest on I-90 I think. I've never heard how well they work.
that ranks up there with deer contraception what a joke
I was thinking this sounds expensive, but if it works then it's money well spent.
And people wonder why California is broke.
Sounds like they could use a couple of these units along the border of Mexico, to alert the border patrol of possible activity in the area ...
60 deer in a 5 mile stretch? That's not much if you consider the entire populace using it. My friend and his kids have hit 6 deer this past 2 years on a two lane blacktop road. It's a deer crossing! He sold his motorcycle because it was just to dangerous an area.
You can't fool (change) mother nature.
Yep, California's spendin'...
I have to admit, it is kind of a neat project... but realistically, is it worth it? Maybe a fence? Maybe a sign that said, "Slow down and quit driving like a Californian" (no offence intended...)
Sounds like California is making good use of their spending...
Justification of the cost can wait till it is seen how many lives (human and wildlife) are saved. 60 animals hit is also 60 cars or trucks wrecked and a certain percentage of that comes with human injury. When a significant reduction in collisions is seen due to this system, that is also a reduction in costs for everyone who used the road. Fewer car repairs, fewer road clean up crews and fewer hospital bills could more than make up the balance.
How discriminatory is the radar? Will it pick up little stuff like birds or mice and set the lights off? Or did they spend extra to get high end radar sensors?
On a lighter note it also means
If the sign is flashing you're in with a shout at a free meal!
SBW
The device and set up cost $168,000 and if this is like an other exterior electronic device the operating cost will be $50,000.-$75,000 per year for the five year life span. The road signs that have a picture of the offending animals could be placed every 100 yards along the road for minimal dollars per unit and these warning signs are very effective. The other strategy that I feel is very effect is postings that demand heavy fines for speeds in excess of what the powers that be say is necessary in this particular area. Then we could take this expensive unit and use it like 2Poppa suggests!
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Justification of the cost can wait till it is seen how many lives (human and wildlife) are saved. 60 animals hit is also 60 cars or trucks wrecked and a certain percentage of that comes with human injury. When a significant reduction in collisions is seen due to this system, that is also a reduction in costs for everyone who used the road. Fewer car repairs, fewer road clean up crews and fewer hospital bills could more than make up the balance.
Sounds like they could use a couple of these units along the border of Mexico, to alert the border patrol of possible activity in the area ...
On a lighter note it also means
If the sign is flashing you're in with a shout at a free meal!
SBW
I've seen that set-up in the midwest on I-90 I think. I've never heard how well they work.
that ranks up there with deer contraception what a joke
I was thinking this sounds expensive, but if it works then it's money well spent.
And people wonder why California is broke.
60 deer in a 5 mile stretch? That's not much if you consider the entire populace using it. My friend and his kids have hit 6 deer this past 2 years on a two lane blacktop road. It's a deer crossing! He sold his motorcycle because it was just to dangerous an area.
You can't fool (change) mother nature.
Yep, California's spendin'...
I have to admit, it is kind of a neat project... but realistically, is it worth it? Maybe a fence? Maybe a sign that said, "Slow down and quit driving like a Californian" (no offence intended...)
Sounds like California is making good use of their spending...
How discriminatory is the radar? Will it pick up little stuff like birds or mice and set the lights off? Or did they spend extra to get high end radar sensors?
The device and set up cost $168,000 and if this is like an other exterior electronic device the operating cost will be $50,000.-$75,000 per year for the five year life span. The road signs that have a picture of the offending animals could be placed every 100 yards along the road for minimal dollars per unit and these warning signs are very effective. The other strategy that I feel is very effect is postings that demand heavy fines for speeds in excess of what the powers that be say is necessary in this particular area. Then we could take this expensive unit and use it like 2Poppa suggests!
Post a Comment