Faced with angry local residents who are furious that Amtrak cut down hundreds of stately, healthy trees in Woodside, railroad officials recently backed off plans to continue the cuttings.

Assemblymember Michael Gianaris joined residents from the Boulevard Gardens apartment complex at a May 18 meeting where the residents blasted Amtrak officials for the tree cutting policy.

Amtrak officials said the project, funded by federal stimulus dollars, is part of a nationwide initiative to reduce the number of falling trees, branches and other debris that land on the railroad’s right of way.

Residents blasted the agency for cutting down healthy trees that were rooted more than 50 feet away from a 200-foot section of tracks in Woodside, Astoria, Forest Hills and other Queens neighborhoods.

“These trees were nowhere near the tracks and residents said they posed no obstruction,” Gianaris said. “This does incredible damage to air quality, especially in an area where the air is already bad due to power plants. This was simply an aggressive effort by Amtrak.”

Amtrak spokesperson Cliff Cole said the agency “heard the residents’ complaints” and will plant lower-growing trees or shrubs in the area. The agency also promised to plant new fir trees along its tracks to compensate for the lost trees.

“They were very solicitous and they apologized,” Gianaris said.  “We will wait and see what they really do.”