While many Newton residents devoted this weekend to beautifying the Garden City, contractors hired by the MBTA were busy clearing trees and branches adjacent to the Riverside tracks. No doubt, some of the clearing was necessary. But other work, including removal of the seemingly healthy, perhaps 80-year-old former tree were removed as well.
MBTA removed trees this weekend along Riverside tracks
by Greg Reibman | Apr 26, 2015 | Newton | 7 comments
Update: Here’s a response from the MBTA..
Curious wording “a fouled right of way”
Ironic, considering that the Newton Tree Conservancy planted 45 street trees yesterday.
@jerry if you’ve ever had your Right of Way fouled, especially by a stranger, you know how painful and often humiliating it can be. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Certainly if it does happen to someone you know, a tasteful sympathy card is always a good idea.
H L Dewey 😉
So, is H L DEWEY ACTUALLY 3 PEOPLE, ER DUCKS? HEWEY; LOUIE AND DEWEY?
I heard about this from a Canterbury Road resident who was quite unhappy. Unfortunately we, the city, our Director of Urban Forestry Marc Welch, and our tree ordinances have no jurisdiction over state land. It was a similar situation a year or so ago when DCR, apparently fixated more on recreation than conservation, cut down a slew of trees at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course and buried some ‘ladies’ slippers’ plants, to the dismay of Lower Falls residents.
Let’s see, how many Green Line trains were delayed or cancelled due to fallen trees or limbs? As opposed to delayed or cancelled due to the MBTA’s inability to keep the tracks clear of snow?
This does illustrate the value of one’s neighbor’s trees as a buffer, whether the neighbor is public land or private. So I hope anyone who is sympathetic to the abutters to the T losing their screening, would also be sympathetic to the idea of protection for healthy trees in the setback on private land, which benefit abutters (which some other towns’ tree ordinances have), rather than just saying ‘if people want trees they should plant their own.’