KITT PEAK LINKAGE WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY: WILDLIFE OVERPASSES AND FENCING. State Route 86

KITT PEAK LINKAGE WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY: WILDLIFE OVERPASSES AND FENCING State Route 86 Tohono O odham Nation Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Vegetation Management Program In partnership with the: Arizona Department of Transportation Environmental Services Tucson District Urban Project Management

PRESENTATION GOALS Present current status of RTA-funded wildlife connectivity efforts along the Kitt Peak Linkage of State Route 86

PRESENTATION GOALS Present current status of RTA-funded wildlife connectivity efforts along the Kitt Peak Linkage of State Route 86 Describe the importance of the Kitt Peak Linkage and why continued RTA funding is justified Priority status in Arizona s Wildlife Linkage Assessment Biological importance for wildlife connectivity Resolution of a wildlife-vehicle collision hot spot ADOT project of opportunity

PRESENTATION GOALS Present current status of RTA-funded wildlife connectivity efforts along the Kitt Peak Linkage of State Route 86 Describe the importance of the Kitt Peak Linkage and why continued RTA funding is justified Priority status in Arizona s Wildlife Linkage Assessment Biological importance for wildlife connectivity Resolution of a wildlife-vehicle collision hot spot Present proposal to the RTA for funding of two wildlife overpasses and fencing along the Kitt Peak Linkage of SR 86 Prior commitment for one overpass and fencing on Kitt Peak and Santa Rosa Ranch segments Second overpass and fencing on San Isidro Segment

IMPORTANCE OF THE KITT PEAK LINKAGE

Milepost 130-138 State Route 86

KITT PEAK LINKAGE One of the top 28 statewide priorities (of 152)

Includes the San Isidro Segment EXPANDED KITT PEAK LINKAGE IN THE PIMA COUNTY CONNECTIVITY ASSESSMENT

KITT PEAK LINKAGE At the northern end of the Baboquivari Mountain Range Strategically located landscape bridge between sky islands extending from Mexico northward

KITT PEAK LINKAGE Kitt Peak Linkage State Route 86 Mileposts 130-138 Santa Rosa Segment Kitt Peak Segment Figure

KITT PEAK LINKAGE CONNECTIVITY FOR HIGHLY MOBILE WILDLIFE SPECIES Desert bighorn sheep Mule deer Mountain lion

KITT PEAK LINKAGE PERMEABILITY FOR LOWER MOBILITY WILDLIFE SPECIES Javelina Spotted whiptail lizard Leaf-nosed snake Desert tortoise

KITT PEAK LINKAGE SPECIES CAPTURED ON EXISTING CAMERAS SOUTH OF UNDERPASSES Opossum Spotted skunk Ringtail

RECENT JAGUAR CRITICAL HABITAT DESIGNATION with Conservation Agreement designation for Tohono O odham Nation Kitt Peak Linkage

No. wildlife-vehicle collisions STATE ROUTE 86 WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS (Milepost 120-140; 2000-2010) 8 7 6 KITT PEAK LINKAGE Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Hot Spot 5 4 3 2 1 0 Milepost Source: ADOT

CURRENT STATUS OF RTA-FUNDED KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROJECT

WIDENING PROJECT ALONG KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROJECT OF OPPORTUNITY Kitt Peak & Santa Rosa projects presented an opportunity to address wildlife connectivity needs integrated with widening in a cost-effective manner Future reconstruction projects likely will not occur in next 20+ years Failure to seize this opportunity will forego addressing a priority linkage Culvert extension 30-foot safety clear zone Paved shoulder Examples from ongoing San Pedro Segment construction State Route 86

INITIAL 2011 KITT PEAK CONNECTIVITY PROPOSAL REQUESTED ELEMENTS: 3 Passage Structures (2-3 underpasses and/or 1-2 overpasses) 8 miles of Wildlife Fence and 8 Escape Ramps (green above)

INITIAL 2011 KITT PEAK CONNECTIVITY PROPOSAL REQUESTED ELEMENTS: 3 Passage Structures (2-3 underpasses and/or 1-2 overpasses 8 miles of wildlife fence and 8 escape ramps RTA-APPROVED ELEMENTS: 2 Underpasses for implementation during widening project (red above) RTA COMMITMENT TO: 1 Overpass to be built at a later date as a separate project (yellow above) 8 miles of wildlife fence and 8 escape ramps (green above)

RTA- FUNDED PROJECT STATUS Both precast arch underpasses implemented awaiting final grading No wildlife fence funded will LIMIT effectiveness in meeting connectivity and highway safety objectives (based on AGFD research) Monitoring cameras (8) to be installed by June 2014 Santa Rosa Underpass MP 131.2 Kitt Peak Underpass MP 134.9

RTA- FUNDED PROJECT STATUS Both precast arch underpasses implemented awaiting final grading No wildlife fence approved will LIMIT effectiveness in meeting connectivity and highway safety objectives (based on AGFD research) Monitoring cameras (8) to be installed by June 2014 RTA provided approximately $900,000 toward underpass cost ADOT underwrote cost for design, traffic control, and other indirect costs Santa Rosa Underpass MP 131.2 Kitt Peak Underpass MP 134.9

CURRENT KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROPOSAL San Isidro Segment Evaluated the San Isidro widening project for connectivity options

Identified no underpass sites, but did identify a viable overpass site at MP 127.5 CURRENT KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROPOSAL Looking southwest Looking northeast

Viable site at MP 127.5 for construction of a bridged overpass CURRENT KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROPOSAL Looking southwest Looking northeast

Construct prior approved but unfunded Kitt Peak and Santa Rosa segment elements: Overpass at MP 133.5 (orange dot) 43,360 LF of wildlife fence (green line) 8 escape ramps and 2 cattle guard extensions

Construct prior approved but unfunded Kitt Peak and Santa Rosa segment elements: Overpass at MP 133.5 (orange dot) 43,360 LF of wildlife fence (green line) 8 escape ramps and 2 cattle guard extensions Construct San Isidro Segment elements: Overpass at MP 127.5 (yellow dot) 46,417LF of wildlife fence (green line) 8 escape ramps, and 1 cattle guard extension

CURRENT KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROPOSAL Spacing between Passage Structures Average passage structure spacing for all segments = 2.5 miles Several large concrete box culverts will accommodate passage for smaller animals State Route 86 Mileposts by Construction Project Segment Wildlife Passage Measure San Isidro Segment 125 126 127 Santa Rosa Segment 128 129 Wildlife Fencing 131 132 133 MP 131.2 Underpass Overpass 130 Kitt Peak Segment MP 127.5 MP 126.7 131.0 (4.3 miles) 134 MP 134.9 MP 133.5 MP 131.0 135.2 (4.2 miles) 135 136

CURRENT KITT PEAK LINKAGE PROPOSAL Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Fenced Corridor Passage structures and wildlife fence should reduce MP 124 136 wildlife-vehicle collisions by 80%

KITT PEAK LINKAGE RTA FUNDING REQUEST SINGLE OVERPASS OPTION* (Kitt Peak Segment only) Overpass, fencing, escape ramps, and cattle $1,662,440 guard extension construction costs Survey and clearances $225,000 Final Design $332,480 Construction mobilization, traffic control, $1,105,498 contingencies, and administration (RTA & ADOT) TOTAL RTA REQUEST** $3,383,636 *Reflects 2011 commitment made by RTA Wildlife Linkage Committee **Cost estimates developed by ADOT engineers and reviewed by RTA with eye to ensuring adequate funding to accomplish work

KITT PEAK LINKAGE RTA FUNDING REQUEST TWO OVERPASS OPTION Overpass, fencing, escape ramps, and cattle $3,314,393 guard extension construction costs Survey and clearances $450,000 Final Design $565,328 Construction mobilization, traffic control, $2,320,075 contingencies, and administration (RTA & ADOT) TOTAL RTA REQUEST* $6,649,796 *Cost estimates developed by ADOT engineers and reviewed by RTA with eye to ensuring adequate funding to accomplish work

PHASED IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH* PHASE 1 - Near-Term (6-12 months) Expedite design and construction of wildlife fence, escape ramps and cattle guard extensions on Kitt Peak and Santa Rosa segments Cost: $946,565 (both overpass options) PHASE 2 - Mid-Term (12-18 months) PHASE 3 - Long-Term (24-48 months) *Allows RTA to address current cash flow limitations and funding of other projects

PHASED IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH PHASE 1 - Near-Term (6-12 months) Expedite design and construction of wildlife fence, escape ramps and cattle guard extensions on Kitt Peak and Santa Rosa segments Cost: $946,565 (both overpass options) PHASE 2 - Mid-Term (12-18 months) Engineering, design and survey of overpass(es) and San Isidro Segment wildlife fence, escape ramps, and cattle guard extensions if approved Cost: $457,840 (single overpass option) $915,680 (two overpass option) PHASE 3 - Long-Term (24-48 months) Engineering, design and survey of overpass(es) and San Isidro Segment wildlife fence, escape ramps, and cattle guard extensions if approved Cost: $457,840 (single overpass option) $915,680 (two overpass option)

PHASED IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH PHASE 1 - Near-Term (6-12 months) Expedite design and construction of wildlife fence, escape ramps and cattle guard extensions on Kitt Peak and Santa Rosa segments Cost: $946,565 (both overpass options) PHASE 2 - Mid-Term (12-18 months) Engineering, design and survey of overpass(es) and San Isidro Segment wildlife fence, escape ramps, and cattle guard extensions if approved Cost: $457,840 (single overpass option) $915,680 (two overpass option) PHASE 3 - Long-Term (24-48 months) Construct overpass(es) and San Isidro Segment wildlife fencing, escape ramps, and cattle guard extensions Cost: $1,979,140 (single overpass option) $4,787,460 (two overpass option)

EFFECTIVENESS MONITORING Tohono O odham Nation and ADOT Environmental Services will cooperate on monitoring of overpass and underpass structure use by wildlife *Nation awarded US Fish & Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grant funding to enhance/supplement wildlife connectivity projects on SR86*

THANK YOU!