02. Staff Briefing on Green Infrastructure in the Right of Way — original pdf

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Technical Advisory Review Panel | Green Infrastructure Working Group Austin Roadmap for Advancing Green Infrastructure in the Right-of-Way This report is a product of the Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP) – Green Infrastructure Working Group Facilitated by Austin Transportation & Public WorksSeptember 2025 WHY Street Trees Matter in Austin Austin’s streets are critical public spaces that must balance safety, utility reliability, and climate resilience. Street trees are vital infrastructure to achieving that balance. This initiative reframes trees as essential public infrastructure and integrates them into planning, utility coordination, permitting, and design from the outset so that tree needs are consistently addressed to deliver safer, healthier, and more resilient streets for all Austinites. Benefits of Street Trees Council Resolution No 20240321-039 Heat Mitigation Safety Air Quality Public & Mental Health Climate Resilience Review and identify barriers to installation and maintenance of green infrastructure Develop recommendations for modifying existing codes, criteria manuals, and regulations Coordinate with relevant departments to align standard and practices with the goal of enhancing green infrastructure Work with the Technical Advisory Review Panel Economic & Public Resource Value Water Quality & Flood Management (TARP) Ecosystem Benefits Process Process These recommendations are a product of the Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP) TARP Stakeholder recommended actions for facilitating street trees within Austin's rights-of- way CITY AND DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP * *Staff review and evaluation of TARP recommendations are ongoing Technical Advisory Review Panel Green Infrastructure Working Group Department Staff: Austin Development Services Austin Energy Austin Parks and Recreation Austin Planning Austin Transit Partnership Austin Transportation and Public Works Austin Water Austin Watershed Protection Development Professionals: Arborholic Bartlett Coleman and Associates Entellus HNTB Lionheart McCann Adams Studio Nora Engineering Stanley Studios TBG Partners Consultant Team: AECOM Urbinden 1 2 3 Involve the rules, codes, and standardsthat restrict or complicate greeninfrastructure in the right-of-wayInvolve challenges in securingapprovals, permits, and meetingrequirementsRelate to institutional challenges suchas coordination, structure, andresource allocationREGULATORY FOUNDATIONSPolicy and manual updates to removeobstacles and support right-of-waydesign frameworksStreamline permits and procedures foreasier green infrastructureimplementationPROCESS IMPROVEMENTSIntegrate green infrastructure intocapital projects and improvement plansCAPITAL PLANNING &PROJECTSEstablish funding, tools, andprocedures for ongoing managementof assetsMAINTENANCEBARRIER IDENTIFICATIONPRECEDENTS & BEST PRACTICES RECOMMENDED ACTIONSAssessed the main challenges toplanting and maintaining streettrees in Austin’s right-of-wayReviewed how other citiesovercame similar challengesthrough policy, permitting,and funding strategiesThe final phase findings intoactionable recommendationstailored to Austin, organizedinto four categoriesREGULATORY BARRIERSPERMITTING BARRIERSPROGRAMMATIC BARRIERSREGULATORY FOUNDATIONS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS MAINTENANCE CAPITAL PLANNING & PROJECTS TARP-RECOMMENDED SEQUENCERegulatory Foundations Transportation/Right-of-Way Criteria Manual Centralized right-of-way design manual, including administrative requirements for the sidewalk corridor and coordination of required right-of-way components. Utility Criteria Manual Establishes infrastructure engineering requirements and utility protection criteria. Standards Manual Repository for standard details, specifications, and product lists. Environmental Criteria Manual - Appendix F Establishes species approved for use as street trees and near overhead powerlines. Provides applicants with species selection guidance. RECOMMENDATION #1 Expand and Update the Transportation Criteria Manual to Regulate the Provision of Street Trees and Holistically Coordinate Components within the Right-of-Way RECOMMENDATION #2 Update the Standards Manual with Comprehensive Details, Specifications, and Product Lists for Street Tree Installations in Standard and Substandard Conditions Nested Recommendations: Nested Recommendations: Expand and reposition the TCM as the Right-of-Way Design Manual, providing guidance on how components within the right-of-way should be holistically coordinated, including components below, above, and at streetscape level 2a Develop standard details for street tree installations that can be permitted without case-by-case departmental review Clarify that as a component of the sidewalk corridor, street tree compliance will be guided by the TCM 2b Standard details should reflect real-world constraints and address other relevant Utility Criteria Manual (UCM) and Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) requirements Use 2D and 3D graphics to illustrate how various elements of the right-of-way should be coordinated to accommodate planting zones and trees within the sidewalk corridor 2c Adopt preapproved product lists for irrigation, drainage structural cells, and other equipment Include requirements for minimum soil volumes and root barriers Ensure that standards provide built-in flexibility to address common constraints to allow for preapproved alternative designs 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e Regulatory Foundations Transportation/Right-of-Way Criteria Manual Centralized right-of-way design manual, including administrative requirements for the sidewalk corridor and coordination of required right-of-way elements. Utility Criteria Manual Establishes infrastructure engineering requirements and utility protection criteria. Standards Manual Repository for standard details, specifications, and product lists. Environmental Criteria Manual - Appendix F Establishes species approved for use as street trees and near overhead powerlines. Provides applicants with species selection guidance. RECOMMENDATION #3 Update Utility Design Criteria Manual and Other Design Criteria to Allow for Street Trees RECOMMENDATION #5 Update City Code to Require Street Trees Nested Recommendations: Nested Recommendations: 3a 3b 3c Update spacing requirements and adopt space-efficient utility practices that allow for tree zones Coordinate with TCM updates to establish assigned utility corridors Reduce minimum separation requirements for underground utilities where risks are lower 5a 5b 5c Require street trees as component of the sidewalk corridor (triggered with frontage improvements) Point to the Transportation Criteria Manual for implementation guidance Enable relief pathways for constraints RECOMMENDATION #4 Update Approved Tree Species List Nested Recommendations: 4a 4b Expand street tree species options considering shade, climate resilience, and adaptability Provide guidance for constrained and infrastructure- heavy locations, including options based on right-of-way width, soil volume needs, root behavior near utilities, and suitability beneath overhead lines Process Improvements Austin Development Services Leads development review workflows. Manages public-facing education. Austin Transportation & Public Works Reviews right-of-way improvements with authority for resolving conflicts and making determinations in the right-of- way. Right-of-Way Stakeholder Departments Provide technical criteria and support conflict resolution surrounding their assets in the right-of-way. RECOMMENDATION #6 Modify Development Review Workflows/Timelines with Early Right-of-Way Evaluation and Conflict Resolution RECOMMENDATION #7 Provide Training on Process and Regulatory Changes to Better Facilitate Green Infrastructure Nested Recommendations: Nested Recommendations: 6a Establish an early-stage ROW improvement review process 6b Establish a team conflict resolution process, with escalated decision-making for ROW led by TPW 7a 7b Staff and applicant training opportunities on new rules and processes Provide quick-reference educational materials Maintenance Austin Transportation & Public Works Leads process changes and manages crews for street tree planting, pruning, irrigation, and replacement. Manages the citywide street tree inventory and Austin Climate Action and Resilience Aligns the street tree inventory with equity, canopy coverage, and climate resilience goals. Eliminate License Agreement Requirements for Street Trees RECOMMENDATION #8 RECOMMENDATION #10 Conduct a Street Tree Inventory to Identify Gaps and Condition, and to Support Maintenance, Inspection, and Other Operational Needs Nested Recommendations: Nested Recommendations: 8a Remove license agreement requirement for new street trees and related elements 10a Create a citywide street tree inventory and asset management system 8b Phaseout of existing license agreements for street trees 10b Include preliminary condition assessment to guide maintenance tracking 10c Integrate new trees from private development and capital projects into inventory Explore City-Led Maintenance for Trees in the Right-of-Way RECOMMENDATION #9 Nested Recommendations: 9a Transition existing and new street trees to city asset management 9b Secure dedicated funding source for ongoing, regular tree maintenance Capital Project Planning Austin Transportation & Public Works Leads street tree program planning and development. Austin Energy, Austin Water, and Austin Watershed Protection Help identify opportunities to align infrastructure investments. Austin Climate Action and Resilience Aligns street tree investment plan with equity, canopy coverage, and climate resilience goals. Austin Capital Delivery Services Integrates street tree requirements into capital projects. Develop a Green Infrastructure Investment Plan RECOMMENDATION #11 RECOMMENDATION #12 Incorporate Street Trees into Baseline Scope and Budgets for Capital Projects Nested Recommendations: Nested Recommendations: 11a Develop a programmatic plan to guide tree infill across the city 12a Establish street trees as baseline infrastructure in capital projects 11b Coordinate major interdepartmental investments to leverage shared CIP needs 12b Consider exceptions for resource constrained infill programs, such as sidewalks and urban trails 11c Establish priorities and identify funding sources 12c Maximize interdepartmental cost-sharing opportunities 11d Develop programmatic targets/goals for tree infill ** Additional scope requirements for capital projects may result in additional project funding needs or a reduction to extents that can be delivered ** Next Steps Date Sep 22, 2025 Sep 24, 2025 Oct 1, 2025 Oct 7, 2025 Oct 15, 2025 Oct 20, 2025 Meeting Design Commission Sustainability Commission Environmental Commission Urban Transportation Commission Water Wastewater Commission Electric Utility Commission