Urban Forestry & Bridging The Gap

In November, 2006, the voters of Seattle passed a $365 million levy for transportation maintenance and improvements. Proceeds from the levy dramatically increase available funds for transportation capital projects and needed infrastructure maintenance.

What does that mean to Urban Forestry?

Over nine years the Seattle Department of Transportation Urban Forestry goals include:

• Prune 25,000 street trees to prevent safety and security hazards.
• Plant 8,000 new street trees.

2007 - The first year:

This, the first year following passage of the levy, SDOT is gearing up to meet the challenging Bridging the Gap goals.

• 210 trees were planted this spring.
• 210 new trees were fitted with water bags, to assure adequate moisture to growing roots during the period of establishment (typically about three years)
• 210 trees watered through the summer.
• 300 additional trees are targeted for fall planting.
• 2100 street trees pruned.