11
March/April 2023
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
HAZARD TREES ASSESSED ON RAIL LINES
Greater Philadelphia's Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA) operates regional rail,
buses, trolleys, subways, and a high-speed line to western
suburbs, serving nearly 4 million people in five counties.
Dustin Rhoades, area manager, Davey Resource Group
(DRG), Utility Vegetation Management services (UVM),
led a hazard tree assessment on 150 miles of SEPTA rail
line from mid-October through the end of December.
"Trees can fall and cause safety issues or disruptions to
either the train service or their electrical service running
along the lines," Rhoades said. "Being an urban area, they've
had a lot of trees on the decline lately – some from lack of
growing space, heat stress from the proximity to asphalt and
concrete, and not really having grass to help dissipate the
heat. There's also emerald ash borer out there. In addition,
spotted lanternflies are killing off ailanthus trees, which are
invasives, and can grow out of rocks around railroads."
Ronnie Reese, senior vegetation management inspector,
and Isabel Morales, vegetation management inspector,
walked the lines every day, and recorded the at-risk trees
in MyRowKeeper to create a map for the tree removal plan.
Brian Noah, account manager, and Justin Mease, project
developer, were the main points of contact between the
inspection team and SEPTA.
Right: A team of
DRG UVM employees
assessed at-risk trees
over 150 miles of
Philadelphia's rail line.
Below: SEPTA's rail
line in the autumn
of 2022. DRG UVM
employees will be
back in the spring
for a second round
of inspections.
PERSEVERANCE
MUSKOKA NORTH CREW FLOWN IN TO RESTORE POWER
Taylor Island, in Gravenhurst, Ontario, lost power in a
blizzard with winds of up to 50 mph just before Christmas
on December 23. The island is located on Lake Muskoka
in an area known to Ontarians as "cottage country" and
has around 109 properties on it. Trees lying on power lines
knocked out electricity to the island.
The Davey Expert Tree Co. of Canada, Limited's Mitchell
Everett, district manager, Muskoka North office, worked
with Elexicon Energy to arrange for foremen Derrick Pierre
and Kyle LeMesurier to be flown in via helicopter to remove
the trees from the power lines. The island can typically be
reached by snowmobile or boat, but due to the warmer
climate and waterway conditions, a helicopter was needed.
"Derrick and Kyle are always ready and willing to help others
in need. They accept new challenges head on and meet the
unique needs of clients. This task was just another example
of the leadership each of them display every day!" said
John Ransom, operations manager, Ontario.
Derrick Pierre and Kyle LeMesurier traveled via helicopter to Taylor
Island to remove trees from power lines.
