Chainsaws Will Buzz Near San Leandro BART

Chain saws will start buzzing Monday on San Leandro Boulevard to begin removing trees. One lane of traffic could also be closed during the week that the work gets done, according to the City Manager's report.

The tree removal is the first visible step in a project to make the front of the Downtown BART Station between Davis Street and Williams Street more pedestrian-friendly.

This project involves streetscape improvements along San Leandro Boulevard between Davis Street and Williams Street, and will include the following:

•  installation of on-street parking and a landscaped median;
• sidewalk reconstruction to provide wider walkways, added landscaping,
• new street lights, and sidewalk bulb-outs with enhanced crosswalk paving; installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection with Parrott Street;
• and accessibility upgrades to the intersections with Davis Street, West Juana Avenue.

The City Council awarded the construction contract to Gallagher and Burk on November 19, 2012 (see bid worksheet).

Fifty trees that are in conflict with the planned improvements will be removed and replaced with 99 trees at the completion of the work.

The contractor is required to complete tree removal work by January 31, 2013. Completing this work at this time, before the start of the nesting season, is required to avoid potential conflicts with nesting migratory birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

This work should be completed in less than a week, and will involve the temporary closure of a single outside traffic lane. 

After the removal work, there will be a break in construction activity until the end of the rainy season.

The main project construction is scheduled to start on March 1, 2013 and extend through November 2013.

A public meeting will be held in mid-February to notify the public of the main construction project and the traffic and pedestrian impacts.