On April 2, the Utah Department of Transportation denied a proposed wildlife crossing on S.R. 224. UDOT’s choice has left wildlife advocate Save People Save Wildlife frustrated and seeking answers and transparency.

Six months have passed since Carlos Braceras, Executive Director of Utah Department of Transportation, stated to Save People Save Wildlife (SPSW) representatives at the Utah Transportation Commission meeting, “It is incumbent upon UDOT to do something” (regarding safe passage for wildlife along State Route 224 in Park City).

On April 2, SPSW participated in a closed door, multi-agency meeting to address solutions to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions on S.R. 224, the fifth worst corridor in the state for such accidents. Attendees included representatives from UDOT, Summit County, Park City Municipal, High Valley Transit and Utah Department of Wildlife Resources. The meeting served as a follow up to an October 2023 walk with the same group along S.R. 224 to explore viable and feasible sites for wildlife crossings on this congested road, which has 30,000 annual average daily traffic that bisects wildlife habitat.

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UDOT Region 2 Director Rob Stewart opened the discussion with a unilateral denial of support for a wildlife crossing, according to SPSW. He indicated that decisions like this are often made subjectively. They were not willing to provide supporting evidence or documentation for how they reached their decision. UDOT expressed hope that an increase in public transit will help reduce collisions.  

Last year, Park City Mayor Nann Worell requested that SPSW obtain letters of support from concerned citizens regarding a wildlife crossing in this area. After the group spent a year collecting hundreds of letters and delivering them to City Council and the Mayor, Park City Municipal returned the letters with no response or acknowledgement, SPSW said.

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Save People Save Wildlife issued the following statement in response to the April 2 meeting:

“The Utah Department of Transportation reached its decision without citing any supporting data or documentation requested by SPSW. The public, after expressing overwhelming support for safe wildlife passage on S.R. 224 through financial contributions and support letters, has a right to know through a transparent process. Since UDOT refused to share documentation, SPSW is forced to file a GRAMA request and engage experts to study the facts. 

The entire Snyderville Basin is a wildlife habitat with 247 collisions on S.R. 224 reported at a cost to the public of $7.5 million between 2010 and 2020. That amounts to 160 percent more vehicle wildlife collisions annually than US 89 outside Kanab, where UDOT will begin a $10 million project of wildlife fencing and crossings. While this is not the outcome our wildlife and community deserve, we remain advocates for protecting our precious wildlife. As we approach the 2034 Winter Olympics, Utah and how it manages environmental issues will be on the world stage. This is an opportunity for government agencies to demonstrate leadership by prioritizing the protection of wildlife as much as we protect open space.”

Save People Save Wildlife said it will “continue the dialogue with UDOT and other relevant agencies and experts to develop solutions that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on S.R. 224.” The group argues that since traffic is guaranteed to increase as Park City prepares for the 2034 Winter Olympics, large-scale development at Kimball Junction and redevelopment projects at the ski resorts, that work will continue to adversely impact motorists and wildlife, and the speed limit reduction and additional wildlife warning signs along this corridor have not made SPSW’s desired impact.