We can and will strive to involve as many community members as possible from the early stages of any project so that we can appropriately incorporate feedback on all aspects of the project. This is not something we will be able to replicate across every project. In the case of Beacon Street, we have been able to find very specific ways to retain more trees than previously accounted for. We understand that feedback is important and circumstances may change and we try to account for that as any project progresses. The best and most important time to make these decisions is during the design phase prior to the start of construction so that the project team can appropriately balance the equal needs of accessibility, safety, parking, quality of life, cost, and other factors. In many cases, tree preservation is extremely complex, may result in short- or long-term damage to the tree structure, and could present future risks to public safety.Įach project is unique and is reviewed independently to determine which, if any, trees must be recommended for removal. To do so, project engineers must navigate a complex system of design criteria and existing utilities including compliance with federal and state accessibility codes, relocation or replacement of buried utilities in streets and sidewalks, allowing for proper draining structure to prevent significant flooding, and ensuring that the final design adheres to traffic safety standards. Projects of this nature are typically undertaken to upgrade and replace significantly aging underground infrastructure and/or to make safety improvements to road and sidewalk surfaces. It is also important to understand the challenges of protecting mature trees in large reconstruction projects. If a hazardous condition is detected, a tree will be removed and replaced just like it would anywhere in the City. It is possible that one or more of these trees will exhibit signs of failing health in the coming years despite the best efforts of contractors and City staff to protect them from additional harm, and our City staff will monitor them closely to protect public safety. These four trees have been surviving in a sub-optimal environment despite our overall expanded efforts to preserve, maintain, and grow our urban forest and tree canopy, and this reconstruction project will not fundamentally improve their growing conditions. In the meantime, MassDOT has directed their contractor to adjust the construction to preserve a mature pear tree at 85 Beacon, and three smaller pear trees at 47 Beacon (at Whole Foods), 15 Beacon and 11 Beacon.Īt the same time, it is important to understand that trees in urban environments exist under great stress compared to suburban and rural environments. MassDOT leadership has endorsed our proposal and is conducting a final technical review before finalizing amended designs. Although those trees had been identified for removal and replacement in the state’s construction contract and in the design plans, I directed my staff to evaluate whether field changes to the project design could potentially result in the preservation of one or more trees.Īfter significant and careful consideration of each tree, their surroundings, and the impacts on both the community and the project outcome, I am very happy to report that our City staff has recommended that four of the six remaining trees be preserved. Since October, following the tree removal work by the state’s contractor, my Administration has undertaken numerous efforts to respond to this challenge and improve the Beacon Street project, as well as the City’s policies around urban forestry and landscape management.ĭue to quick coordination by City staff, those tree removals were halted and we were able to save six living trees between Washington St. Like you, I place high value on our City’s tree canopy and understand how important trees are to overall quality of life. Thank you for your heartfelt email and for your advocacy around MassDOT’s Beacon Street Reconstruction project in Somerville, specifically around the planned removal of several remaining trees along Beacon Street.
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