As a highway designer this…

As a highway designer this change to the endangered species act is deeply concerning and shows to me a lack of understanding of urban planning and highway design. This act is crucial in bridge rehabilitations, culvert rehabilitations, highway widening, and almost all aspects of highway design, providing key information in construction start and end dates and encourages drivers safety. Without this act construction may occur on specific animal feeding areas or in specific species habitats that are no longer on the endangered species list. If this becomes a reality, current roadways near these areas or newly constructed roadway I'm these areas may experience increased collisions seasonally or year round, effecting safety for roadway users and potential increase it costs due to damaged roadway components such as guiderail when drivers encounter or try to avoid them. These changes will ultimately cost the MTO and therefore the citizens tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars and will increase safety risks to roadway users.