The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is leading an effort through the Henry’s Fork Legacy Project to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions on US 20 and SH 87 through Island Park. Y2Y recently met with the Citizens Road Alliance to discuss their efforts to raise awareness of wildlife vehicle collisions US 20 in eastern Idaho and ITD’s plans to expand US 20 near Targhee Pass, and also to learn about the efforts of the Citizens Road Alliance to reduce truck traffic on local highways. 23% of all accidents on US 20 involve wildlife, about 5 times the national average, according to Kim Trotter, US program director for the Y2Y. This is most likely underestimated as truckers rarely report wildlife collisions. Click here to visit the Y2Y’s Notes from the Field about their work on US 20. Residents in eastern Idaho have voiced their concerns about the number of wildlife vehicle collisions on Route 20 from Ashton to West Yellowstone. Click here to read the recent story in the Idaho State Journal.

We have an opportunity to give input to the long range transportation plan under development by the Montana Department of Transportation as they conduct a survey of citizen’s opinions. Please take a few minutes and let them know you care about reducing unnecessary long-haul truck traffic in our valleys. As you answer each section, be sure to use the comment fields to share your personal concerns about the truck traffic. The time you take now to complete the survey will help send a message to our government officials.

Please click here to go to the survey . You can point out issues with highway safety, the environmental impact on wildlife and our pristine rivers, the impact on our tourist economy and the cost of repairing these secondary highways from the pounding they take from the big trucks.

An effort to limit the impact of increasing tractor trailer traffic in the Madison and Gallatin Valleys is underway, spearheaded by the Citizen’s Road Alliance (formerly Preserve Our Valleys). Residents are well aware of this upsurge on Highways 287, 87, 84 and 191 and the dangers posed to drivers, wildlife, and the environment. Recent semi accidents on Highways 287 and 84 illustrate the threat. The trailer that overturned due to a “shift in the load” was hauling minerals, but the potential for a hazardous waste accident is made evident by this mishap.

Efforts to curb the tractor trailer thru traffic date back to 2009 when the Montana Department of Transportation Director, Jim Lynch, told a community meeting in Ennis that truck traffic in the valley was on the increase and that no plan existed to limit its effect on resident’s quality of life. The community provided data showing minimal time and fuel differences for trucks using I-15 and I-90 as their Idaho Falls to Bozeman routes, with no response from the agency.

In 2010, Governor Sweitzer and Mr Lynch sent a letter to Preserve Our Valleys outlining several improvements, including increased patrols and more truck speed signs. To date, residents have not witnessed these changes. The Governor and Mr Lynch also stated that the MDOT supported the Western Governors Association’s proposal to encourage trucks to use the interstate system by allowing heavier loads.

In 2011, MDOT’s attorney wrote the organization that a study was planned to determine if 84 was safe for semi traffic and confirmed “high commercial vehicle crash and severity rates” in this road. The Western Transportation Institute at MSU and the Craighead Institute in Bozeman initiated a study to determine the effects of wildlife/vehicle collisions on wildlife habitats, confirming the scientific community’s concern.

In October of this year, members of the Citizens Road Alliance (CRA) met with Mike Toomey, the current Director of the MDOT. The CRA proposed that Highways 287, 87, 84 and 191 be designated “Red Routes”, a classification which limits the types of hazardous waste which can be routed through the valley and reduces the hours that wildlife is exposed to crossing accidents, by restricting dusk to dawn truck traffic.

The CRA will begin soliciting the support of the business, environmental and tourism organizations to bolster our efforts, along with the help of local residents. We welcome not only your observations and suggestions, but your willingness to join with us.

The CRA will continue the effort to limit the threat to our quality of life that the long haul tractor trailers increasingly pose to the residents, tourists and wildlife in our beautiful valleys. If you would like to comment or join with us, please contact us at info@citizensroadalliance.com.