Chron story on Universities DEIS

Not much here about the Metro Draft Environmental Impact Statement (PDF) for the Universities corridor we didn't already know, but at least it gives us a chance to read some dueling quotes. Here's one aspect that I hadn't seen mentioned before:

It also shows that a route on Richmond would come at an environmental cost: Nearly 200 trees would be removed if the freeway crossover occurred at Cummins and more than 150 if it were at Greenway Plaza.

Opponents of a Richmond route have criticized it, in part, because the tracks, stations and overhead power lines would require removing mature live oaks in the avenue's median.

University line project director John Van Briesen said Metro wants to work with property owners to transplant as many of the removed trees as possible.

In some places, he said, Metro may replace oaks with trees that spread less widely and do not threaten power lines.

Losing trees is always a shame. If Metro can move them instead of cutting them down, that's laudable and something they should strive for. Planting new trees when that's the best option is also acceptable. Let's just make sure Metro keeps these promises.

Beyond that, I presume we've all read Christof's report on the DEIS, which is detailed but a lot more readable than the full statement itself. And as for the predictable hysteria that's sure to follow as people notice that some property will be taken, I just have one question: Will we see a proportionate level of concern by those now expressing such concern when the DEIS for the US290 widening comes out? Because that will have a far greater impact, and unlike Metro's plans, no one got to vote on it. I'm just saying.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 08, 2007 to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles