Wildlife Crossings Program Secures $500 Million Over Five Years, Easing Costs for Rural Towns

This bill, the Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025, essentially takes the existing federal program for building animal overpasses and underpasses—those bridges and tunnels that help deer, bears, and other animals safely cross highways—and makes it permanent. It’s no longer a 'pilot' program; it’s now a stable part of our infrastructure planning.

Crucially, the legislation authorizes a significant cash infusion, pulling $100 million annually from the Highway Trust Fund for five years, covering fiscal years 2027 through 2031. That’s half a billion dollars dedicated to reducing those dangerous and costly vehicle-wildlife collisions that happen all too often on open roads.

The Cost Break for Small Towns

If you live or work in a small, rural, or disadvantaged community, this bill offers a huge financial break on infrastructure projects. Normally, when a town gets a federal grant for a road project, they have to pay a significant percentage of the cost themselves—the local match. This bill changes that math dramatically for wildlife crossings.

For projects benefiting these smaller communities, the federal government will now cover 90 percent of the cost. Even better, the Secretary of Transportation has the authority to cover the full 100 percent if the local government can prove that paying even the remaining 10 percent would cause “significant financial hardship.” This provision means that crucial safety and conservation projects—like building an overpass to protect elk migration routes near a small town—become far more feasible for municipalities that don't have large tax bases.

Clearing the Path for Tribal Projects

One detail that often gets overlooked in these large infrastructure bills is the technical support needed to actually apply for and manage the funds. This legislation specifically addresses that challenge for Tribal entities. It sets aside up to 0.5 percent of the annual funding—that’s up to $500,000 per year—to provide technical assistance to Tribal governments.

This assistance isn't just a brochure; it’s dedicated help with applications, engineering support, and speeding up the process from initial idea to funded project. This is a big deal because federal grant processes can be complex and resource-intensive, often creating a barrier for smaller or understaffed governments, including Tribal nations, who want to protect their lands and wildlife.

What This Means for Your Commute and Wallet

While the primary goal is environmental—keeping animals off the road—the real-world benefit for drivers is safety and lower costs. Every year, millions of dollars are spent on insurance claims, medical bills, and vehicle repairs due to collisions with deer, moose, and other large animals. By funding these crossings, the bill aims to reduce those accidents, making roads safer for truckers, commuters, and families on road trips.

However, it's worth noting where the money is coming from: the Highway Trust Fund. This fund is primarily supported by the federal gas tax, meaning the $500 million dedicated to these crossings is money that could have gone to other road maintenance or infrastructure upgrades. It’s a trade-off: safer roads through fewer collisions versus potentially delayed resurfacing projects elsewhere. Overall, though, making the program permanent and boosting the federal share for rural areas suggests a strong commitment to making these crossings a standard part of our national infrastructure strategy.