Street Trees -- An Essential Part of Our Canopy
Street trees are a vital part of the county’s green infrastructure. They enhance neighborhoods and add to curb appeal for homes and businesses. They can improve air quality, reduce the severity of storm water surges in local streams and storm drain infrastructure, provide shade to cars, homes and parking lots, and have even been shown to reduce average traffic speeds and increase safety for drivers and pedestrians. lii These public trees present another opportunity for increasing canopy in Montgomery County. Think of street trees as your tax dollars invested in an important part of Montgomery County’s tree canopy and the public’s “frontline” for making neighborhoods cooler, healthier, and more walkable in our vehicle-centric public spaces. In general, the right-of-way (ROW) is publicly owned and maintained land that is dedicated to transportation and other public improvements such as sidewalks, storm drains and street
Street trees are a vital part of the Montgomery County urban canopy.
trees. The ROW often extends 10 feet or more beyond the edge of the pavement. The Tree Maintenance Section of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is responsible for the care and maintenance of over 425,000 trees growing in the county. The State Highway Administration is responsible for maintaining trees along numbered roads. In addition, other Montgomery County municipalities have responsibility for planting and maintaining street trees in their jurisdictions. Using grants, general operating funds, and fees collected from the county’s Roadside Tree Protection Law, MCDOT plants over 2,000 street trees annually, and has planted over 18,000 trees in the last 10 years. MCDOT determines the location and species of trees that may be planted in the ROW and plants large shade species wherever possible to maximize canopy cover in the county. MCDOT’s Tree Maintenance Section responds to tree related requests. Homeowners and
business owners can request that a street tree be planted in the ROW adjacent to a home or business by calling the 311-county service number at 240-777-0311 or visiting https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc311/. Likewise, any concerned resident can request the inspection of a county- maintained street tree by using the county’s MC311 system. MCDOT employs a staff of certified arborists who can help with your request. MCDOT relies on county residents to stay informed about trees of concern in the ROW. If unprotected, street trees can be significantly damaged by construction activities in the right-of-way. The County
Stumps, left in the Rights of Way can be ground to make way for a new street tree. MCDOT is willing to work with residents to replace stumps with new trees.
Department of Permitting Services (DPS) enforces the Roadside Tree Protection Law and ensures that damage is minimized or prevented altogether. Arborists at DPS approve tree protection plans before construction starts.
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