Urban Tree Program

The Urban Tree Program, administered by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), is a community-based initiative designed to restore tree canopy in urban areas impacted by transportation construction. Created following legislative action in 2021 (Transportation - §2–103.8), the program is a joint effort between MDOT, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee. This initiative plays a vital role in supporting the broader Maryland Five Million Trees campaign and MDOT’s goal of becoming the nation’s most environmentally sustainable department of transportation. The program funds local tree planting efforts, particularly in communities where trees were removed due to infrastructure projects, such as highway expansions or transit developments. Grants are capped at $5,000 per project, although additional funding may be considered for more intensive projects like pocket forests. These grants support a wide range of costs, including tree species procurement, maintenance materials, and outreach-related expenses. In-kind contributions and matching support are encouraged and preferred, strengthening the community’s investment in long-term tree care and environmental health. Eligible applicants include a wide variety of community-based and nonprofit organizations such as neighborhood associations, youth and civic groups, schools, higher education institutions, homeowner associations, and forest conservancy district boards. Projects must be located in urban areas and linked to transportation facility impacts. Preference is given to applicants who address environmental justice concerns and mitigate urban heat island effects. Applications are accepted continuously through the Maryland OneStop Portal. There are two annual review cycles, with deadlines on January 15 for spring plantings and July 15 for fall plantings. Applicants must create or log into an account to complete the submission, which requires uploading project descriptions, budgets, maintenance plans, and maps of the proposed site. Additionally, approval from the local Forestry Board is mandatory for an application to be deemed complete, and applicants must coordinate this step during the submission process. Required application components include contact information, a project overview, site location relative to MDOT facilities, an itemized budget, co-benefit descriptions, and volunteer contributions. Each funded project must also include a detailed maintenance plan—one year for typical tree planting and three years for pocket forests. All successful applicants must participate in the Maryland PLANT (People Loving and Nurturing Trees) Award Program, either by confirming participation or applying if not yet enrolled. Program contact is Nick Kurtz, MDOT Urban Tree Program Coordinator, who can be reached at nkurtz@mdot.maryland.gov. The most recent guidance document was last updated on September 10, 2025. With a recurring biannual review schedule, the next anticipated deadline for submission is January 15, 2026, corresponding to the spring 2026 planting cycle.

Ensure the Forestry Board information is correct and included at submission; without approval, applications will not be reviewed. Strongly recommend including environmental justice and heat island impact details to improve competitiveness.