Ferry Street storm-sewer work will require removing mature boulevard trees, engineers say

City engineering staff updated the Board on the Ferry Street project (phase 3 of 4), describing a 42-inch storm-sewer interceptor and associated replacement of sanitary sewer and water mains. “Northbound traffic on West Avenue has been detoured at Market Street, and southbound traffic has been reduced to one lane,” the project manager said, and those conditions are expected to last approximately six weeks while crews install deep infrastructure intended to reduce localized flooding.

Several council members and residents raised concerns about mature tree removals in the project area. One council member described constituents pleading to save healthy trees and recounted an example of tenants relying on trees for cooling rather than costly air conditioning: “They’d rather use the trees to cool their property,” she said. Engineering and the director explained that deep excavations — in some areas over 20 feet deep — and the need to remove street base and sidewalk make it impossible to retain trees whose root systems would be undermined; Director Gallagher said the removals are required by code when utility work undermines root support. Staff confirmed that tree replacement funding is included in projects, but the amount varies by project and is “dependent on every project.”

Council members asked whether parks staff should be involved earlier to prioritize preserving healthy trees where feasible; engineering acknowledged coordination but stressed that when a full street excavation is required, saving boulevard trees may not be possible. Staff said projects are designed and publicly bid and that the common council approves individual projects, leaving some decisions about replacement planting size and budget to the project-level planning.