The City of Santa Barbara has almost completed the removal of eight trees along Milpas Street, which it says will help make the area safer for pedestrians and drivers.

The removal is part of the city’s Milpas Street Crosswalk Safety and Sidewalk Widening Project, which will include additional lighting, high-visibility crosswalks, and a new traffic light at the intersection of Milpas and Yanonali streets.

According to Bryan Latchford, the community engagement manager for the city, the work began in June and is on track to finish this month.

“All eight ficus trees planned for immediate removal due to ADA/safety issues have been removed, but the crews are still finishing up stump grinding today and potentially tomorrow. The next phase of the contract is planting 25 trees,” Latchford said Monday.

The city says it is removing the trees because their height obstructs views for motorists and their roots lift the sidewalks along the street.

Milpas Street has a history of vehicle collisions. The area has the second-highest number of pedestrian collisions in the city.

The city is removing eight of the area’s 95 trees, but the Santa Barbara City Council has approved the removal of a total of 13 trees.

The trees being removed are between Canon Perdido and Quinientos streets. The last five trees will be removed when construction begins.

Although the work is intended to make the street safer, some residents have expressed concerns about how the removal of the trees will impact the area.

Phil Cuykendall lives on the Westside but walks along Milpas Street on his way to Trader Joe’s. He said he loves the trees and that they make the area unique.  

“I would be sad to see them go,” Cuykendall said.