Final phase of Queens Boulevard redesign
will start construction after lengthy delay
The city will finally begin the final phase of construction of the Queens Boulevard Vision Zero project in Ozone Park and Forest
Hills. Courtesy of NYC DOT
TIMESLEDGER | Q 10 NS.COM | MAY 21-MAY 27, 2021
away hundreds and hundreds of
parking spots. We cannot afford, because
of our businesses, to lose all
these parking spots.”
Following the mayor’s announcement,
Koslowitz maintained her opposition
to the project.
“The city needs more bike lanes
to accommodate today’s cyclists and
the anticipated expansion of future
cycling,” Koslowitz said. “While I
am pleased that the city is moving
forward with the extension of bike
lanes on Queens Boulevard, I am
disappointed that Phase IV plan
does not protect cyclists, nor does it
minimize the loss of parking spaces.
The objective of protecting cyclists
while minimizing the loss of parking
spaces has been accomplished in
other parts of the city.”
One day earlier, de Blasio announced
the city will expand last
year’s outdoor dining initiative by
creating extra space for diners, cyclists
and pedestrians.
The new “Open Boulevards” program
will be implemented on Ditmars
Boulevard in Astoria from
33rd Street to 36th Street and Woodside
Avenue in Elmhurst from 76th
Street to 78th Street.
The streets will be closed to vehicular
traffic during designated hours
when they will be transformed into
outdoor dining areas. Open Boulevards
will feature cultural activities,
community-based programming,
landscaping and art installations in
addition to restaurant seating.
“The Open Streets program offers
much-needed recreational space
to Queens residents looking for ways
to enjoy the outdoors and experience
the vibrancy of our neighborhoods,”
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards said. “The Open Boulevards
program is a natural expansion
of Open Streets and is a great
way to make these destinations even
more attractive. I encourage Queens
residents to visit our Open Boulevards
to enjoy more of what our great
borough and city have to offer.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by email
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
BY BILL PARRY
After a three-year delay, the city
will finally move forward with the
final phase of its Queens Boulevard
Vision Zero project, Mayor Bill de
Blasio announced Thursday, May
13.
Construction will begin in July
along the so-called “Boulevard of
Death,” with bike lanes from Yellowstone
Boulevard to Union Turnpike
with completion scheduled for November.
“Queens Boulevard, tragically,
was synonymous with the problem
of horrible deaths on the road,
pedestrians, motorists, cyclists.
Queens Boulevard — I don’t have to
remind people who’ve been here a
while — it used to be called the ‘Boulevard
of Death’ and people would
say it almost without even thinking
about it. It had become so common,
which is tragic unto itself,” de Blasio
said. “When we put Vision Zero into
effect, one of the things that I knew
we had to do, and it would take time,
but we would get it done, is address
Queens Boulevard once and for all.
And as we’ve done each stage, it has
had a remarkable impact.”
The mayor blamed the COVID-19
pandemic and the lack of federal approval
for the lengthy delay but admitted
that opposition from Councilwoman
Karen Koslowitz also played
a role.
“I think she honestly felt that
what she was proposing was a better
approach for the community,” de Blasio
said. “And we carefully — truly
carefully — listened to her, thought
about it, looked at it, but came to the
conclusion that it wasn’t workable
and that the original plan was fair.
I think there were some adjustments
made, but it’s based essentially on
the original plan.”
Koslowitz spoke against the
Queens Boulevard plan during a
town hall meeting in February 2020
when she asked the mayor to reconsider
the proposal for the 1.2-mile
stretch through Forest Hills.
“I am not against bike lanes,”
she said during the forum. “What I
am not for are the bike lanes along
Queens Boulevard that are taking
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