City staff outline 12 recommendations to expand street trees, streamline right-of-way rules

Austin Transportation and Public Works staff on Oct. 15 briefed the Water and Wastewater Commission on a Technical Advisory Review Panel (TARP) report that recommends 12 interrelated actions to expand street trees and other green infrastructure in the public right of way.

The presentation, led by Michelle Marks, Transportation Officer, and opened by Richard Mendoza, Director of Transportation and Public Works, said the work responds to a City Council resolution passed in March 2024 directing city staff to study barriers and potential fixes to increase street trees. "Street trees are a means to provide our community to access those transit stops more comfortably if they're in the shade," Mendoza said, summarizing the council-led charge to address climate resiliency and pedestrian comfort.

Marks told commissioners the TARP focused on street trees because they deliver measurable benefits: shade that improves transit access and comfort, reduced urban heat in microclimates, stormwater absorption, and documented public-health benefits. The working group included representatives from multiple city departments and the design/development industry; a consultant from Urban and Design Lab supported the analysis.

The TARP's recommendations fall into four categories: regulatory foundation,…