Green Streets Initiative
STREET TREES KEEP AUSTIN COOL
News:
City Council passes the “Green Infrastructure Resolution” with unanimous support!
We are delighted to share that the "Green Infrastructure Resolution" was passed on consent at the March 21st Austin City Council meeting with 7 council members sponsoring the item! This is a critical first step toward addressing systemic barriers to street trees in Austin and towards achieving the goals of the Green Streets Initiative.
We thank Leslie Pool and her office for their leadership in sponsoring this item and doing the work with staff and management at the City to make this possible. We would also like to thank Paige Ellis, Ryan Alter, Natasha Harper-Madison, José Velásquez, Chito Vela, and Zo Qadri for co-sponsoring this item.
More work is ahead of us but this is a big milestone. We are looking forward to sharing more with you. Please sign up as an official supporter of the Green Streets Initiative to receive updates about this process.
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Why Austin needs street trees:
Austin is warm and getting warmer - By 2050, Austin is estimated to experience an average of ~3 months per year (82-95 days) with a heat index over 100° compared to ~1 month” historically (29 days).
It is even hotter in the Streets - Unshaded streets become “urban heat islands”, absorbing and reflecting the sun’s heat, causing streets to be 5-10° hotter than other parts of the city.
Our streets are dangerous - 2022 was the deadliest year on Austin roads topping the previous record set in 2021.
Low-income and BIPOC communities in Austin are disproportionately impacted by dangerous streets and extreme heat - Black Austinites are more than 2.6 times as likely as white Austinites to be involved in a pedestrian crash. Lower-income, East Austin neighborhoods, also have less tree cover and are warmer than wealthier neighborhoods.
Street trees cool sidewalks and make our streets safer for all users - Street trees act as a natural air conditioner for the sidewalk. In addition to shade, street trees convert the sun’s energy into “evapotranspiration”, producing up to 6 kW of cooling. Street trees are also shown to slow vehicle speeds and reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.
“ The best time to plant street trees was 20 years ago. The second best time is today! ”
What are street trees?
Street Trees are trees planted in the street located between the sidewalk and the roadbed. Street trees are spaced regularly, forming a continuous canopy over sidewalks and bike paths that makes walking, biking, and taking transit safe and comfortable.
What is getting in the way:
Systemic barriers within the City of Austin government prevent the planting of street trees and hinder the city from achieving its equity, mobility, and sustainability objectives. These barriers include:
Street trees are often not required - Less than 4% of streets in the City require street trees with new development. Even when street trees are required, it is easier to get relief from this regulation than to comply. Public projects are not required to provide street trees.
Administrative rules conflict with street trees - Criteria manuals are designed to protect departmental interests rather than supporting City goals and policy. Inflated rules force most street trees to undergo case-by-case departmental review, requiring special exceptions to plant street trees.
Required License Agreement process is risky and costly - Proposed street trees must undergo a 1-2 year review process that duplicates site plan review and subjects projects to inconsistent reviewer interpretations. This process can often be avoided if a project does not provide street trees.
Planting street trees can be expensive - Even if the approval process for street trees is made faster and more predictable, some constrained sites will be required to move utilities or provide soil cells at a high cost. Small projects and projects that include public benefits like affordable housing can be especially sensitive to this kind of cost increase.
Missing leadership - The public right-of-way is a contested space with many stakeholder agencies. Today, departmental silos limit holistic solutions. No individual or group at the City is responsible for balancing public priorities and aligning public and private efforts with city-wide goals and policies to optimize the design of our public rights-of-way (ROWs).
The change we need:
[Process] Eliminate the License Agreement requirement for street trees.
[Regulations] Require street trees on all streets for both private and public projects.
[Administrative Rules] Reform criteria manual rules to eliminate barriers to planting street trees, including reducing physical separation standards between trees and utilities and restricting utilities within the planting zone.
[Standardization] Adopt new street tree standard details, specifications, and product lists that:
Define street trees and related equipment as standard items in the public ROW without requiring a case-by-case departmental review,
Provide sufficient soil volume and quality for street trees,
Provide necessary protections for utilities in close proximity to street trees, including root barriers. Use the Corridor Construction Program Tree Manual details and specifications as a starting point.
[Funding] Identify funding to subsidize street tree planting for SMART Housing projects, ETOD projects, and public projects along transit corridors, and to pay for street tree replacement for utility maintenance projects.
[Leadership] Appoint a “Public Realm Officer” to resolve conflicts in the ROW and guide public space projects with a particular focus on making our streets more functional, safe, and comfortable for all people.
Get Involved:
Read Urbinden Design Lab’s upcoming report!
“Barriers to Street Trees in Austin, TX” is coming out soon! Sign up for our contact list and we will send you a copy.
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Research-backed Street Tree benefits:
Safety:
Street trees enhance road safety by reducing car accidents and creating a protective buffer between vehicles and sidewalks.
Physical Health:
Street trees help reduce cardiovascular and respiratory health issues, encourage more active and healthy lifestyles, and help us live longer.
Mental Health:
Street trees boost mental health by reducing stress, enhancing mood, promoting social connection, and encouraging physical activity.
Water Quality:
Street trees help improve water quality, reducing erosion and flooding by promoting the infiltration, storage, and evaporation of stormwater.
Urban Heat:
Street trees combat urban heat islands by shading paved surfaces and promoting evapotranspiration, making urban microclimates more comfortable.
Climate Change:
Street trees mitigate climate change impacts by reducing urban heat islands and capturing greenhouse gasses, helping Austin adapt to and become more resilient to rising temperatures.
Ecosystems:
Street trees offer habitats that support bird migration and pollinators such as butterflies and bees, bolstering the resilience of our urban ecosystems.
Managing Public Resources:
Street trees are a valuable city investment, boosting commercial activity, lowering healthcare costs, raising property values, and make more efficient use of our streets by promoting walking, biking, and transit use.
Culture, History & Identity:
Trees define Austin's essence, uniting its diverse subcultures, bridging history, nature, and community. The Austin FC logo, featuring the oak tree, embodies this spirit, connecting the city's identity with its past and its neighborhoods. The logo's four roots symbolize our city's unity.