Protecting Your Property: Understanding Tree Safety Responsibilities Near Williston Park’s LIRR Stations

Living near the Long Island Rail Road in Williston Park brings convenience, but it also comes with unique responsibilities regarding tree management and safety. With the East Williston station serving as a vital transportation hub on the border between East Williston and Williston Park, property owners must navigate the complex intersection of railroad right-of-way vegetation management and residential tree care obligations.

Understanding Railroad Right-of-Way Vegetation Management

To protect the safety of both the public and train crews, and to ensure the reliability of train service, the LIRR must manage vegetation on the track ROW. Overgrown trees, shrubs, and bushes oftentimes interfere with safety and train service reliability in a number of ways: It is common for tree branches and limbs to grow into and among our signal and communication lines. Just like utility lines, signal and communication lines must remain free of vegetation entanglements to ensure that during ice, wind, rain, and snow storms the lines are not brought down by the adverse weather.

Critical safety regulations require that MTA Railroads maintain their rights-of-way and regularly inspect track, structures, and various railroad components to protect the safety of rail operations, the safety of railroad employees and the safety of the public. The MTA follows a carefully defined process under which we inspect our infrastructure in order to discover and repair defects that could lead to derailments or other types of incidents that would be harmful to the railroad and its employees, the public or to the environment.

The LIRR uses licensed and insured tree service professionals to carry out this program of trimming and/or removal of trees along our property. This may also include removal of some branches overhanging the right-of-way from trees located on private property. This is particularly relevant for Williston Park residents whose properties border the railroad corridor.

Property Line Tree Responsibilities for Homeowners

Understanding your responsibilities as a property owner adjacent to railroad property requires knowledge of both railroad regulations and general property law. However, any trees that are located on a property line are the shared responsibility of both homeowners on either side of the boundary. Trees located on property lines are called boundary trees.

To understand homeowner tree responsibility one must understand that the homeowner has a “generalized duty of care” in relation to trees growing on his property. Tree owners must maintain their trees in such a way as to prevent injury to a neighbors property. This duty extends to railroad property as well.

Typically, you have a right to cut any part of the tree that grows into your yard, including branches, trunks or roots. This would include trimming up to the property line, but not beyond it. However, when dealing with trees near railroad property, additional safety considerations and regulations may apply.

Federal Railroad Administration Standards

Railroads are federally required to control vegetation on or next to railroad property and grade crossings. Weeds and overgrown trees are more than an eyesore, they’re a safety hazard. Under track safety standards, the Federal Railroad Administration requires railroads to keep trees, plants and shrubs in check to prevent them from: • becoming a fire hazard to trains or rail cars; • obstructing the visibility of railroad signs and signals along rights of way and at crossings; • interfering with railroad crews trying to perform trackside duties or conduct inspections; and · • causing signal and communication lines to improperly function.

These federal standards directly impact property owners near the East Williston station and other LIRR facilities in the area. Trees are cut down for visibility and safety reasons. If the height of a tree is greater than the distance from the track, it will likely be cut down to prevent it from falling in the future.

Professional Tree Removal Services in Williston Park

Given the complexity of managing trees near railroad property, many homeowners turn to professional services. When you need expert assistance with tree-related issues near the LIRR corridor, a qualified tree service williston park provider can help navigate both safety requirements and legal obligations.

Professional tree services understand the unique challenges of working near active rail lines and can ensure compliance with both LIRR requirements and local regulations. Mitigating the risk of trees along railroads requires experts who understand tree risk assessment. Eocene Environmental Group’s assessment process has the goal to minimize tree failure that could cause property damage, injury or loss of the movement of trains along the railway.

Diamond Masonry & Waterproofing: Your Local Solution

Diamond Basement Waterproofing, a division of Diamond Masonry & Waterproofing, has been servicing Long Island since 2000. Over this time, we have been able to help hundreds of customers solve their basement waterproofing needs. We are a family-owned business, and we operate efficiently without a lot of overhead like many of the larger companies servicing the Long Island market. This enables us to deliver more affordable solutions to our customers.

Located in Merrick and serving all of Nassau County, including Williston Park, Diamond Masonry & Waterproofing brings over 25 years of experience to tree removal and property management services. For over 25 years, Diamond Masonry & Waterproofing has been the trusted name for masonry and waterproofing services. Our experienced team has been doing this for years, so you can trust us to make sure your home stays dry and secure.

The company’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction makes them an ideal choice for homeowners dealing with tree-related issues near railroad property. Our commitment to customer satisfaction is reflected in our outstanding reviews. Our job isn’t done until you are fully satisfied.

Best Practices for Railroad-Adjacent Properties

The MTA railroads Vegetation Management plans contain a “good neighbor” policy, and it is our goal to be a “good neighbor”. The MTA will make reasonable efforts to provide for meaningful prior notice, when reasonably practicable, of any significant vegetation management activities that may impact neighboring properties or stakeholders in the communities affected by such activities.

Property owners should maintain regular communication with both the LIRR and qualified tree service professionals to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. The “Good Neighbor Policy” means that a reasonable form of communication between two reasonable persons is first initiated to solve a property line tree issue. A neighbor can first tell the owner that his tree branch is leaning towards his house and is concerned that the branch may cause significant damage if it were to fail.

Conclusion

Managing trees near Williston Park’s LIRR infrastructure requires understanding complex regulations, safety requirements, and property responsibilities. While the railroad maintains its right-of-way vegetation, adjacent property owners must ensure their trees don’t pose safety risks to train operations or neighboring properties. Professional tree services familiar with railroad regulations can provide invaluable assistance in maintaining compliance while protecting your property investment. By working proactively with qualified professionals and maintaining open communication with railroad officials, Williston Park residents can enjoy the benefits of convenient rail access while fulfilling their tree management responsibilities safely and effectively.