Brookline Leaders Vote To Allow Tree Removal For Grand MBTA Project

BROOKLINE, MA — The Select Board voted unanimously to allow the Tree Committee to remove five trees as part of the MBTA’s Green Line C Branch Accessibility Upgrade Project during its most recent meeting this week.

The project involves upgrades to nine stations overall, and is expected to cost approximately $51 million. The main purpose of the work is to make the trains and stations fully accessible to riders with mobility restrictions in order to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The focus on Tuesday night was primarily on the Englewood Avenue station; the project’s plan includes the removal of five trees from the station, including a well-known large Pin Oak. While the new plan involves replacing the five trees with 20 new ones, the new trees would not be substantially grown for five to ten years, according to Brookline’s Urban Forestry Manager Jack Schleifer.

In addition, the Tappan Street station will have four trees removed, and replaced with ten new ones.

Some Council members had reservations about approving the Tree Committee’s proposal, such as John Vanscoyoc. However, they all ultimately agreed that accessibility for their community is the most important in this situation.