Tatsumi and Partners, Inc. is serving as the landscape architects for this $154 million transportation project. Winding 13 miles along abandoned rail right of ways through dense urban communities in Southern California, the Metro Orange Line illustrates one of the major landscape improvement projects of its time. When complete, the Metro Orange Line will transport bus passengers through colorfully landscaped corridors that highlight strands of mature existing trees. Tatsumi's' designers and arborists conducted extensive field inventory of the thousands of existing trees found along the route. Each tree was carefully evaluated, photographed and mapped utilizing state-of-the-art Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology. This data was input directly into mapping computers, which clearly illustrated trees designated for preservation. Over one thousand mature trees of various species are being preserved using a number of different tree protection methods. The landscape for the overall project is a “California heritage” drought-tolerant concept. Anticipated to cost $13 million, the landscape and irrigation will feature water saving techniques and will incorporate drip irrigation and a cutting-edge master controller system. Tatsumi's designers and artists created enhanced aesthetic treatments for the sound walls located along a majority of the Metro Orange Line route. These treatments are supplemented with vines and multiple layering of plant materials on berms.

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