Austin Energy is scheduled to begin routine vegetation management work along the railroad tracks on the west boundary of Allandale beneath the transmission lines on the tall metal poles. With the exception of approximately 12 private properties, all of this vegetation management for the transmission lines is on City property and railroad right of way along Great Northern Blvd.

This work is intended to maintain transmission safety and reliability along these transmission lines which carry power from our generation plants to electrical substations throughout North and Northwest Austin, similar to the substations at the intersections of Northland Dr and Steck at MoPac.

Our approach is to remove fast growing, tall, incompatible tree species, in most cases chinaberry & hackberry trees, beneath the 138,000 volt transmission lines to provide 25 to 30 feet clearance from the transmission lines, at maximum sag, for a four to five year maintenance cycle. Trees which can not be trimmed to maintain a safe and viable tree will be evaluated for removal. Dead trees that may present a hazard beneath transmission lines will be evaluated for removal for safety.

Fortunately, the larger, desirable native trees, such as the live oaks and cedar elms, in most cases, can be effectively pruned to provide adequate clearance. These desirable trees will benefit from the removal of the invasive species which compete for sunlight and soil moisture.

We will retain low-growing, compatible trees and other vegetation, as screening vegetation and buffer, to fill in the right of way (for example, live oak, redbud, mesquite, soapberry, huisache, grape vines, selected wax leaf ligustrum, etc). Our crews will take care in removing overtopping trees so that they do not damage understory, screening vegetation.

We recognize the value the vegetation provides as a buffer to the neighborhood from Mopac and the RR tracks, therefore we’ll maintain as much low-growing vegetation as possible which is compatible with our need for safe clearances from the power lines overhead. By selectively removing certain incompatible, exotic or invasive species from the overstory, the residual native understory vegetation is released from overtopping competition to form a buffer that’s compatible with our overhead lines.

During this work, Austin Energy and our contractor, Asplundh, will maintain on-site supervision to oversee the Asplundh crews performing the work.

This work is separate from another tree maintenance project where property owners are now being contacted regarding tree work near the distribution lines on wooden poles in parts of the neighborhood. Much of our vegetation maintenance work will also benefit distribution line reliability and safety beneath our transmission facilities along Great Northern Blvd.

Previous transmission tree trimming maintenance was last performed in Fall, 2004, with good results and favorable neighborhood feedback.