All this rain may be putting a damper on some summer plans, but it has been a good thing for the 487 new trees that were planted this past spring by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). Thanks to the Bridging the Gap (BTG) Transportation Initiative, passed by Seattle voters in 2006, SDOT has planted more than 5,000 new trees in the past six years and we have pruned more than 20,000 trees across the city.
SDOT’s Urban Forestry division is charged with overseeing the more than 40,000 trees in the public right-of-way and maintaining 123 acres of landscapes that relate to the transportation system. Their mission is to administer, maintain, protect, and expand the City’s urban landscape in street right-of-ways for Seattle’s residents and businesses so that economic, environmental, safety and aesthetic benefits are maximized. Much of this work is accomplished thanks to BTG.
This year alone, Urban Forestry will plant 600 new trees, prune more than 3,000 and make more than 840 improvements to various landscapes across the city. This work help Seattle have a healthy tree canopy. Trees provide needed shade, homes for wildlife and help reduce the amount of green house gasses in the air. Trees help make our communities more liveable.
If you have questions or would like more information about the SDOT Urban Forestry Tree Program please visit their website. In addition, if you have concerns about specific trees in your neighborhood please call the citywide tree line at (206) 684-TREE. If you would like more information on BTG please visit our website.