For Green Line commuters, the upcoming Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) closures of seven C-line stations means the familiar headache of shuttle buses and delays. While riders are bracing for longer trips, a different group of local residents, Brookline’s nesting hawks, owls, eagles and the trees they call home, face a more permanent disruption.
The MBTA Green C Line Accessibility Project plans to make all C Branch stations fully Americans with Disabilities Act compliant with new lengthened and raised platforms, ramps and accessible pedestrian crossings. They will also enhance safety and passenger amenities through protection from traffic, improved customer assistance areas, better lighting, wayfinding signage, emergency backup power and more.
At the Fairbanks and Brandon Hall stops, in particular, the MBTA will remove 18 mature trees, according to Lisa Battiston, the MBTA Deputy Press Secretary. She said that after considering dozens of ramp configurations, the current plan cuts 96 trees total and, despite trees in the area reaching up to 40 inches in diameter, the largest tree that will be impacted is only 15 inches in diameter with most being 6 inches or less.
“Although these removals have been reduced, there is no way to eliminate them completely and still provide the safe, accessible station the local residents and riders deserve,” Battiston said. “The MBTA will additionally have an environmental compliance officer present for sensitive construction work, including the tree removals and to review the tree protections being set up for the nearby trees that will remain.”
For Joslin Murphy, spokesperson for Friends of the Brookline Raptors, the importance of preserving the existing tree canopy that provides harborage to nesting hawks, owls and eagles cannot be overstated. She said that Friends of the Brookline Raptors began as a group of residents in 2024 concerned about the effects of widespread rodenticide use on raptors, and now they are petitioning the Select Board to protect the trees surrounding the two stations.
“In our case, the petition was drafted and circulated by an environmentalist and member of the Friends of Brookline Raptors, and in a short period of time, more than 150 signatures were collected,” Murphy said.
If townspeople are interested in supporting Brookline’s animals, Murphy said that she asks that they back state and local legislation, including House Bill 965 and Senate Bill 26, or speak to the Select Board during the 15 minutes of public comment. At the Fairbanks and Brandon Hall station, she said that a resident living nearby was able to photograph a screech owl whose home is in a tree that will be affected by the construction.
“It is likely that there are more creatures that nest in the trees lining the Beacon Street MBTA line, not limited to raptors,” Murphy said. “These birds and animals can be protected by alerting state and local officials and employees to their existence, and asking that the trees they inhabit be protected.”
Urban Forestry Manager and Town Tree Warden Jack Schleifer said that trees are among the few capital investments that cities install that increase in value over time. With this in mind, he said, losing mature canopy is something the Town takes seriously, so they will be installing tree protections against damage from construction equipment for all trees that are remaining on site. He said that the oldest trees provide benefits such as air purification, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, urban heat mitigation and stormwater management.
“The hopes are that any newly planted trees will do this as well, but it takes time to reach their full potential and extend their fullest range of ecological benefits,” Schleifer said. “This is all a lot to ask of our urban trees, so a successful replanting plan also includes adequate maintenance such as water, pruning and pest management to make sure that these trees have what they need to survive for many decades.”
According to Battiston, the MBTA’s mitigation plan includes working with the town to identify the best species and quantities of trees to replant where the old platforms are being removed. If money is left over in the tree planting budget, she said the MBTA will work to identify additional locations to add trees, but at a minimum, the plan includes planting 98 trees in and around the platform areas.
“The MBTA has a very good compliance track record with environmental regulations during construction,” Battiston said. “Every station considered multiple options that were reviewed in detail with Town Staff. They weighed the impacts to parking, travel lanes, trees and service efficiency to find a balance that would be best for the Town but still achieve the required accessibility upgrades.”
Schleifer said he wants a planting plan that acknowledges the historic Olmsted design of the Beacon corridor, while simultaneously preparing for changing climate conditions. In an urban forestry context, he said he believes that means selecting trees tolerant to droughts, storms and other variables like human foot traffic, dog pee, road salt and runoff. According to Schleifer, the integration of more of these types of trees will add needed diversity and resilience to Brookline’s green spaces.
“We know that trees are one of our greatest resources to combat climate change, and we also know that improved public transit reduces community reliance on fossil fuels in a way that also benefits our planet,” Schleifer said. “I think that it’s important to listen to diverse stakeholders and hear from people while weighing these tradeoffs, and I’ve been grateful for the residents and advocates who have stated their perspectives throughout the process and have added to that balance.”
