Trees Along the Blue Line

The long-anticipated opening of the Blue Line Extension is The Big Thing happening this spring. So, in the interest of making sure you know everything about it, let us tell you a bit about the trees you’ll see on your light rail journey.

Like most civic projects, the Blue Line Extension came with a landscaping plan. But this plan had some challenges, including:

• • Ensuring the trees didn’t pose a danger to the tracks, namely by dropping leaves on the rails and creating “slippery rail”
  • Incorporating any art commissioned for the route
  • Creating an identity, especially at stations
  • Beautifying the route, stations and parking lots

TREES YOU CAN SEE ALONG THE BLUE LINE

Along Tryon Street, from Old Concord Road to University City Boulevard:

• • Multi-stem Muskogee Crape Myrtle
  • Tulip Poplar (City Side Street)
  • Jane Saucer Magnolia (City Side Street)
  • Chinese Pistache
  • Nuttall Oak (City Side Street)
  • Forest Pansy Redbud – will be installed in 2018
  • Aeryn Trident Maple
  • Main Street Shantung Maple

Along Tryon Street, from University City Boulevard to the UNC Charlotte campus:

• • Commemoration Sugar Maple
  • Single-stem Muskogee Crape Myrtle
  • Willow Oak (City Side Street)
  • Leonard Messel Magnolia
  • Green Gable Black Gum
  • Harvest Moon Southern Sugar Maple
  • Aeryn Trident Maple
  • Main Street Shantung Maple