Benefits of Plantings in the Right-of-Way (ROW)

Vegetation within the right-of-way has been shown to provide significant benefits. Generally, these benefits increase as the size of the planting increases; this is particularly true for trees.

All plantings:

• Capture carbon dioxide and particles from the air
• Improve pedestrian comfort by providing shade, cover from rain and protection from wind
• Reduce the urban heat island effect, decreasing energy costs related to air temperatures
• Allow for passive or active stormwater management, reducing the impacts of increased stormwater inundation on streets due to the increasing frequency and severity of storms
• Dampen street noise, providing health and psychological benefits
• Provide urban wildlife habitat opportunities; including for pollinator species if carefully selected
• Make streets appear narrower to drivers, thereby encouraging slower speeds and enhancing safety
• Create a positive aesthetic that attracts customers to local businesses
• Increase the value of adjacent properties
• Make streets and neighborhoods more attractive
• Increase trust in local government, if well maintained
• Contribute to the potential for improved public health outcomes
• Encourage outdoor activity

For greater detail and more information, review the following references:

• US Forest Service
  • NYC Municipal Forest Resource Analysis
  • Plant a tree and save a life? The value of planting more trees in urban areas
  • Value of Urban Forests
• US Environmental Protection Agency
  • Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Island
  • Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies – Trees and Vegetation
• The Nature Conservancy
  • Public Health Benefit of Urban Trees
  • How Urban Trees Can Save Lives
• Ettinger, A.K., Bratman, G.N., Carey, M. et al. Street trees provide an opportunity to mitigate urban heat and reduce risk of high heat exposure. Sci Rep 14, 3266 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51921-y
• Paola Rendon, Natalie Love, Camille Pawlak, Jenn Yost, Matthew Ritter, Jacqueline Doremus, Street tree diversity and urban heat, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 91, 2024, 128180, ISSN 1618-8667 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128180
• Sharmin, M., Tjoelker, M.G., Esperon-Rodriguez, M. et al. Urban greening with shrubs can supercharge invertebrate abundance and diversity. Sci Rep 14, 8735 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58909-8
• Mouratidis, K. (2019). The impact of urban tree cover on perceived safety. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 44. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866719300408?via%3Dihub
• Ferrini, F.; Fini, A.; Mori, J.; Gori, A. Role of Vegetation as a Mitigating Factor in the Urban Context. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4247. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104247
• Macdonald, E., Sanders, R., Supawanich, P. (2008). The Effects of Transportation Corridors' Roadside Design Features on User Behavior and Safety, and Their Contributions to Health, Environmental Quality, and Community Economic Vitality: a Literature Review. University of California Transportation Center. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/12047015
• Wolf, K. (2006). Roadside Urban Trees Balancing Safety and Community Values. Arborist News. https://www.naturewithin.info/Roadside/ArbNews_TreeSafety.pdf
• Dumbaugh, E. (2005). Safe Streets, Livable Streets. Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 71, No. 3.
• Mok, J., Landphair, H., Naderi, J. (2003). Comparison of Safety Performance of Urban Streets Before and After Landscape Improvements. 2nd Urban Street Symposium (Anaheim, California)