Hochul vetoes animal crossing bill

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the New York Wildlife Crossing Act. The bill would have required the state to build ways for animals to cross the road, based on studies that would have been commissioned to identify the most dangerous roads in New York.

Lawmakers and environmental advocates said that S4198B/A4243B would protect biodiversity and improve public safety by reducing car crashes with animals like bears, snakes, moose, and turtles. It also could have been leveraged to get a slice of over $350 million in federal funds from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act earmarked for projects like this.

The proposal required the Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority to create a top-ten list of high-risk, wildlife collision-prone spots on highways. The bill passed both legislative chambers with bipartisan support in spring 2024, but caught flack from Hochul as an unfunded mandate.

The governor rejected the bill as part of a broader veto of 29 measures, saying they would cost about $24 million altogether. “Without appropriate funding, these unbudgeted costs would create significant staffing and other programmatic burdens on state agencies,” Hochul said.

Hochul said that she'd work with state agencies to advance the goals of the bills she vetoed. She maintained that the legislation would be "more appropriately considered in the context of the state budget process."

Assemblymember Robert Carroll, who sponsored the bill with State Sen. Leroy Comrie, said he was disappointed:

"This is important legislation both in terms of preserving biodiversity in our state and preventing vehicle/wildlife accidents. It would position the state to better be able to take advantage of funds allocated for wildlife crossings in the Federal Instructure and Jobs Act. Despite this setback, I will continue to advocate for what I know to be good environmental policy.”

The Adirondack Council echoed concerns, pointing out growing traffic risks to people and animals and an urgent need to blunt the effects of development on natural migration patterns. Wildlife crossings are critical for preserving habitats and adapting to climate change. They would also support New York's 30x30 initiative, aiming to conserve 30% of land and water by 2030.

“This bill was a win-win for wildlife and for the personal safety and health of New Yorkers across the state, especially in the Adirondacks and the North Country,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul Aguirre. "New York should be leading on this issue.”

As outlined in New York’s Climate Impacts Assessment, urbanization drives habitat fragmentation, limiting wildlife and aggravating damage to ecosystems caused by higher temperatures and more precipitation. Crossings for wildlife, such as overpasses and tunnels, connect at-risk species without putting them in harm's way.

Crossings also represent long-term savings by preventing accidents and reducing cleanup costs. Every year, about 65,000 deer-related crashes damage property, injure New Yorkers, keep first responders busy, and cost millions. States like Colorado and California have successfully used federal money on crossings, and Carroll's office pointed to studies that found a 92% drop in crashes with animals after construction.

Despite the veto, “New York can still qualify for those federal funds to carry out this work,” Aguirre said. “The [Department of Transportation] and Thruway Authority can include language in their budget requests to the legislature that incorporates the need to fund those studies.”