By Sara Beth Williams–
Much of the landscaping including some mature trees along Auburn Boulevard from Rusch Park to the northern city limits now lays barren, prompting questions from some as to why.
Previous landscaping along the boulevard included trees, grass, and other plants, but many of the trees have been removed in the weeks since the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets revitalization project broke ground at the end of July.
City Engineer Leslie Blomquist said in an email Wednesday that the removal of landscaping and street trees is a necessary part of the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project.
“Due to necessary underground utility work, sidewalk widening, and property slope challenges, 58 trees must be removed, many of which are in poor or critical condition,” said Blomquist, adding that the project includes widening sidewalks, removing obstacles such as utility poles, and widening the street in order to add new bike lane striping.
Phase two of the Complete Streets project began almost ten years after phase one was completed. Blomquist said in an interview last month that phase two is designed to be a “continuation of the improvements” along Auburn Boulevard, which began at Sylvan Corners and continued just past the intersection of Antelope Road and Auburn Boulevard.
Plans for landscaping in the current phase include similar aesthetics to phase one, such as decorative street lighting, a landscape buffer between the sidewalk and street where possible, and more trees. Blomquist said that phase two plans include planting 103 new trees, along with shrubs and ground cover, “to ensure a robust urban forest for future generations.”
“When the street was first developed, it wasn’t planned development, it was done piecemeal,” Blomquist said, adding that the roadway is “very old” and did not have a consistent width. The project seeks to create a consistent width of roadway, continuing from phase one into phase two, Blomquist said.
New medians are also planned for much of the roadway, which will allow for the addition of more trees and other plants. Blomquist said the medians will create a “more attractive” atmosphere while also enhancing safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. Medians with specified turning lanes will allow for the purposeful direction of drivers to turn at specific locations, Blomquist said.
In the years leading up to the project, several businesses have voiced concerns about access with the addition of medians, according to prior reports. To address those concerns, Blomquist said the city has worked with all the businesses along the corridor to the city limits, and has run truck turning templates to ensure that there are “appropriate and safe ways” for large trucks to enter and exit businesses along the boulevard when necessary.
