Many residents have expressed concerns about the DOT tree cutting that has been occurring between exits 19-26, on I-95. Please know that I share all of your concerns and I am just as appalled by what is happening. I’ve been fighting with DOT on this specific issue for weeks and am extremely frustrated with the process, their lack of notice and their response.
Below you will find a letter that I just sent several weeks ago to the Commissioner of DOT asking for a stop to the clearcutting recognizing the very real and devastating impact this will have specifically to the Henderson neighborhood and several others along the I-95 corridor.
In the letter I mention the importance that vegetation plays in terms or providing a natural noise and sight barrier for I-95 as well as helping to improve air quality. I further mentioned that any scope of tree cutting work should be limited to only diseased or dying trees.
Current law, PA 14-151, only requires notification and homeowner approval when trees are cut on private property and fall outside the utility protection zone of more than 8 feet off of power lines for work done by utilities. It does not include notification requirements for hazardous trees cut alongside state highways that might border homes. I have followed up on a request for an onsite meeting with the DOT Maintenance Bureau Chief to get more answers and show them the very real impact of their policy.
My colleagues and I are having conversations about reintroducing legislation similar to HB 6123, An Act Requiring The Development Of Vegetation And Tree Removal Management Guidelines By The Department Of Transportation from 2017, which passed the House, but not the Senate. The legislation would have required certain requirements of DOT when removing trees on highways.
In this legislation, I would like to see additional requirements including notification to homeowners with property that borders along the state highway, adding the benefits that tree and vegetation have in providing natural noise and visual barriers as part of the criteria for vegetation management plans, stipulating that only dead, damaged or diseased trees can be removed and also requiring the replanting of healthy trees be included as a part of DOT’s budget for healthy forest management.
Again, thank you to all those who have reached out with concern and I hope to share more information in the very near future. |