Median barriers are usually constructed to reduce head-on-crashes between vehicles on undivided highways and the type (e.g. cable, metal beam, concrete) based on state requirements for crash mitigation. Because of their position in the center of the traveled right-of-way, median barriers could affect wildlife movement across the right-of-way, decreasing wildlife connectivity. There are several types of center-median and right-of-way edge barriers, with cable barriers possibly providing the most wildlife permeability and concrete Jersey barriers the least. This research consists of two primary objectives: first, identifying opportunities, information gaps, existing resources (e.g. existing Caltrans guidance) and research needs by engaging non government organizations (NGO), California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) biologists who expressed interest in working on this project; second, with input from these biologists, conduct a preliminary investigation for at least ten (10) sites, each with concrete median barriers, cable guards or thrie-beam barriers, and vegetated/developed medians, for comparison of rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) with large and all wildlife, as indicators of wildlife connectivity.
