LEVY TO MOVE SEATTLE | Urban Forestry – Tree Planting & Trimming Program Spotlight

Department of Transportation logo large

LEVY TO MOVE SEATTLE | Urban Forestry – Tree Planting & Trimming Program Spotlight

Thank you for your interest in the Levy to Move Seattle. 

Program 16: Urban Forestry – Tree Planting & Trimming 

Our Levy to Move Seattle commitment: Add a new tree crew focused on quick response to critical pruning needs (such as clearances for people biking and walking, and at transit stops) and on ensuring clear sightlines to traffic signals and signs. Replace every tree removed due to disease or safety with two new trees. 

In 2018, we established the following annual targets for this program: 

  • 2 trees planted for every 1 tree removed, for about 300 planted per year  
  • 4,000 trees pruned 
  • 1,000 areas of landscape maintained 
  • 300 tree or vegetation obstructions removed 

Trees and open spaces help keep the environment healthy – which means they help keep our communities healthy, too.   

Planting trees in West Seattle.

Planting trees in West Seattle.

Trees and green spaces have significant environmental, economic, health, and social benefits — including improving air and water quality, offering natural stormwater management and soil protection, and making community spaces more beautiful and enjoyable. We all benefit from a healthy urban landscape along the streets and sidewalks which we all share. 

Levy funding allowed us to hire new staff and acquire new equipment to expand the capacity of our tree maintenance program.  

In 2016, we implemented a new Street Tree Management Plan to better track and manage tree inventory, tree replacement, and tree maintenance.  

Our Urban Forestry team maintains, protects, and expands the City’s urban landscape to maximize all these benefits!  

Planting trees on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.

Planting trees on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.

You might think about Seattle’s magnificent forested parks when you think about urban trees, but many of our city’s trees are actually on the right-of-way along streets and sidewalks. Our Urban Forest team maintains these trees and designs urban landscaping along the right-of-way. We also  work with private developers to manage permits, review designs, and provide construction oversight ensure proper installation of new trees and landscape architectural elements in the public realm. 

All in all, we are on track to meet our targets for this Levy program to the extent that the work is necessary. 

Trimming a Siberian elm tree.

Trimming a Siberian elm tree.

For example, tree and vegetation obstructions are addressed as they are reported, so in some years we may not receive enough reports of obstructions to meet the target. 

Thank you making this work possible through the Levy to Move Seattle. 

What would you like to see in these newsletters? Please tell us by emailing MoveSeattle@seattle.gov. See you in two weeks!

Levy to Move Seattle

Approved by voters in November 2015, the 9-year, $930 million Levy to Move Seattle (the Levy) provides 30% of Seattle’s transportation budget to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options.

If you need assistance or translation of this material, please contact us at MoveSeattle@seattle.gov or 206-684-7623.

  • Servicios de traducción e interpretación disponibles bajo petición 206-684-7623.
  • 요청하시면 번역이나 통역을 제공해드립니다 206-684-7623.
  • Matutulungan ka naming maintindihan kung hihingi kang tulong 206-684-7623.
  • Dịch và thông dịch viên sẵn sàng nếu có sự yêu cầu 206-684-7623.
  • Haddii aad dooneyso turjubeen fadlen wac 206-684-7623.

Thank you for your interest in the Levy to Move Seattle.