North Sepulveda Pedestrian Island Tree Removal (W.O. S333NSEP / CIP No. 2021MR101)

The North Sepulveda Pedestrian Island Tree Removal project, managed by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering under solicitation BPW-2026-0437, involves the removal of six street trees—specifically two California Fan Palms, three Chinese Elms, and one Chinese Flame—located on a pedestrian island along Sepulveda Boulevard between Lemaay Street and Hayward Street. This action is a critical component of a larger infrastructure project that includes the construction of a five-foot-wide concrete sidewalk, a seven-foot-wide irrigated planting area featuring 26 stormwater parkway swales, and ADA-accessibility upgrades such as new curb ramps, crosswalks, and improved bus stop furniture. The project is scheduled for construction from October 10, 2025, through July 1, 2027, and was determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by the Board of Public Works on August 17, 2026. To mitigate the environmental impact of the removals, the project requires the planting of 22 new 36-inch box street trees, including Desert Willow, Desert Museum Palo Verde, and Maverick Thornless Mesquite, to maintain a minimum 2:1 replacement ratio. The contractor is responsible for watering and maintaining these replacement trees for at least five years following planting. Compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish and Game Code is mandatory, requiring tree removal to occur outside the nesting season from February 1 to September 1 whenever feasible. If removal occurs during this window, a qualified biologist or arborist must survey the trees within three days of removal. All work must adhere to the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction Greenbook and the BNi-Building News Work Area Traffic Control Handbook.