FOLSOM, Calif. — Folsom City Council considers at its meeting Tuesday removing four landmark oak trees for a Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) light rail modernization project.
The completed improvements are anticipated to increase light rail train operation to every 15 minutes from the Sunrise Station in Rancho Cordova to the Historic Folsom Station, according to SacRT.
City staff said Folsom upholds its “Distinctive by Nature” adage by recognizing landmark trees, which are designated by council as exceptional due to their outstanding characteristics, special ecological contributions or historical contributions. In 1999, the council became the decision-making body for any declassification of landmark trees for the purposes of their removal.
On Jan. 23, the council declassified five landmark trees for removal. On Feb. 13, it declassified 13 more.
If council approves removal Tuesday, tree casualties for the 15-minute service project would reach 22 total.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a project study was prepared and found a less-than-significant impact on air quality and biological resources contingent upon an arborist survey and mitigation, which would include a tree replacement plan or fee payments.
“The repeated identified need for removal of more oak trees in the landmark grove along Folsom Boulevard is heartbreaking,” said Barbara Leary, a member of Friends of Folsom Parkways. “The corridor was identified years ago as a scenic road. There is no way to replace 100-plus-year-old trees.”
She said a greater mitigation effort must be made.
“The tree(s) prevents reasonable use of the property,” the city concluded in a staff report.
Tuesday’s city council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Council is also expected to approve the 2024-25 fiscal year budget during proceedings.
