Wildlife crossing sign on 224. Photo: TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah — Save People Save Wildlife (SPSW), a local wildlife advocacy group, is calling on community members to participate in this evening’s City Council meeting. Organization leaders will be presenting letters of support from our community over the past year in an attempt to remind the council to prioritize safe passage for wildlife along SR 224 in this year’s strategic plan.

There’s currently a high rate of wildlife casualties due to traffic along SR 224. According to SPSW, UDOT-commissioned studies have found that of the top 25 highways in Utah for vehicle wildlife collisions, SR 224 was identified as fifth worst with 2.97 vehicle wildlife collisions per mile per year. SPSW’s rally cry comes at a time when traffic volumes are expected to increase and highway expansion plans are in place.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has recognized the necessity for such initiatives but awaits the backing of Park City Municipal to proceed.