This post is part of a three-part series focused on an analysis of DC 311 data. Part one highlights how we use 311 and how tree-related requests compare to all 311 requests. Part two focuses on how 311 requests are dispersed across the city. And part three centers on the city’s response and fulfillment of 311 requests.
Many Washingtonians know about DC 311, the city’s one-stop-shop, non-emergency service system to request city services, report issues, and get information. Bulk trash collection request? 311. Have a pothole that needs filling? 311. Requesting a street tree be pruned? 311. The list goes on. This city service, offered through an app, online, or over the phone, is often the best way to get what we need, quickly, from the city.
But 311 isn’t merely a service request platform; it also provides valuable insights into the everyday concerns and priorities of Washingtonians – a glimpse into what matters most to DC residents, what services are most needed, and where expectations and reality on city services may not align. By reporting issues and requesting services, citizens demonstrate their investment in the city’s well-being and their expectation of responsive local government.
Recently, Casey Trees analyzed over one million 311 Requests from the last 3 years (January 2022 – September 2024). This data is publicly available through DC Open Data, the city’s data hub for promoting transparency in government. We wanted to see what 311 data revealed about the concerns DC residents have about the city’s trees and the tree-related services the city provides. Here is what the data had to say…
DC 311 & Our Trees: Part I – How are we using 311?
DC residents use 311 to varying degrees. Some may never use the service, while others may use it frequently. For those residents who do use 311, what services are they requesting? What issues are they reporting? And where do our city’s trees stand within those requests?
1. Washingtonians primarily use 311 for trash, parking, and roadway related requests.
The 311 platform lets users choose from 147 different values when requesting a service – everything from bulk trash collection, to parking permits, to tree planting and pruning, or even simply for directory assistance. By design, many of these values cover services where residents interact within public spaces or need public services, often on a daily or weekly basis. So it’s unsurprising to hear that there are far more requests made to 311 that are related to public areas where residents have needs at a higher frequency. For Washingtonians, this means trash, parking, and roadway/traffic related requests. Consequently, these are also the services that the online 311 application presents first as suggested or most frequently used request types.
In the analyzed data set, the leading types of 311 requests were trash related, with over 40% of all requests. This includes requests/reports for bulk pick up, missed trash collection, yard waste collection, recycling, illegal dumping, and more. Over 20% of requests were related to parking. This includes parking enforcement, parking meter repair, parking permit violations, etc. And over 10% of requests were roadway or traffic safety related. This includes safety investigations, streetlight repair, signage, pothole repair, etc. Altogether, these request types made up the substantial majority of all requests.
2. Washingtonians care about trees and often use 311 to report tree-related issues.
Though tree-related requests are a much smaller portion of all 311 requests, they are not insignificant. Of those 147 values residents can select when reporting to 311, four are tree-related (Tree Inspection, Tree Pruning, Tree Planting, and Tree Removal). Combined, these values account for almost 5% of all 311 requests. Roughly 1 out of every 22 requests is tree-related. Additionally, all four tree-related values rank in the top 20% of requests made through 311, with tree inspection at #16, tree pruning at #19, tree planting at #27, and tree removal at #30.
Tree-related requests outnumber requests for services like street cleaning, bus/rail issues, power outages, illegal fireworks, traffic safety investigations, leaf collection, complaints for illegal construction, and more than 100 other request types! It’s clear – DC residents care about their trees and are concerned about their health.
But how do 311 requests track across the city? Do residents in different parts of the city have different needs and different requests? Sign up for our newsletter and stay tuned next week to see how 311 requests are dispersed around DC, and how residents throughout all 8 wards interact with 311.
Here for the first time? Join our mailing list at caseytrees.org/getupdates, or consider supporting our work to restore, enhance, and protect the trees of the nation’s capital by becoming a member.
