(1) The Department of Transportation shall establish a program to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and promote public safety in priority areas where wildlife corridors identified in the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife intersect with proposed or existing public roads. (2) The program must include, but need not be limited to: (a) Feasibility studies; (b) Plans for creating or modifying road infrastructure in a manner that reduces wildlife-vehicle collisions and promotes public safety; (c) Updates to wildlife guidance materials and standards, and to specifications of highways, to incorporate wildlife crossing and wildlife-vehicle collision reduction features into the design, construction and modification of highways; (d) A training program, established in coordination with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, that is designed to educate relevant Department of Transportation employees and other stakeholders on the interaction of transportation systems and infrastructure with wildlife and wildlife habitats; and (e) A list of priority projects to reduce collisions between wildlife and vehicles that: (A) Is developed jointly with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, with opportunity for public input; and (B) Is made publicly available on a website of the Department of Transportation. (3) The program may include but need not be limited to the use of wildlife crossing structures and roadway fencing. (4) To the extent practicable, the Department of Transportation shall coordinate with local governments, as defined in ORS 174.116, and the tribal governments for tribes and bands listed under ORS 172.110, to achieve the goals of the program described in this section. (5) Under the program, and in coordination with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Transportation shall consider and, to the maximum extent feasible, plan for and incorporate measures and infrastructure to promote the avoidance, minimization and mitigation of impacts to wildlife corridor connectivity from the construction, improvement, operation and maintenance of transportation infrastructure throughout this state. (6) Projects under the program that impact threatened or endangered species, or species of greatest conservation need as identified by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, must include mitigation of impacts and crossing infrastructure, to the greatest extent feasible. Note: 366.161 and 366.162 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 366 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
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