SAFE SHOPPING
MARCH 2 0 1 8 I BOROMAG.COM 23
Photo courtesy of Flickr/iamNigelMorris
Pedestrians trying to shop along
Steinway Street in Astoria have
to walk more than 500 feet to
reach a crosswalk. A local councilman,
along with the Department
of Transportation, is looking
to change that.
Councilman Costa Constantinides and
the DOT announced on Feb. 23 that three
new mid-block crosswalks and traffic lights
would be installed along the busy thoroughfare.
Constantinides first announced
his plan to add traffic mitigation measures
on Steinway Street in his State of the District
speech last year.
Steinway Street, which stretches from
Northern Boulevard to Berrian Boulevard,
currently has no mid-block crosswalks and
blocks measure up to 1,000 feet. The new
crosswalks and traffic lights will be installed
from 30th Avenue through 34th Avenue.
The agency will also add painted curb extensions
and planters to shorten the crossing
distance.
The thoroughfare has been the scene of
249 traffic-related injuries and 95 pedestrian
injuries in the past five years, according
to DOT data.
“These traffic mitigation measures will
greatly improve the Steinway Street experience
for pedestrians, shoppers and small
business owners,” Constantinides said. “If
the street is safer and easier to cross, shoppers
will be able to walk between stores
more safely.”
Marie Torniali, executive director of the
Steinway Astoria Partnership, said the improvements
will help boost foot traffic for
small businesses in the area that may have
been overlooked.
“The Steinway BID is very excited to see
these long-awaited pedestrian-friendly improvements
to the Steinway streetscape
being implemented,” she said. “The blocks
on Steinway are easily the length of two city
blocks and walking to either end is a chore.
Mid-block crossings will make it easier and
safer for shoppers and residents to cross
the street.”
These changes will be installed this spring
as part of the first phase of the project. The
next phase will include working on a plan
for a public gathering place.
In his state of the district speech last year,
Constantinides announced his desire to
form a community working group to discuss
bringing a meeting space to the area, citing
examples like Union Square and Madison
Square in Manhattan.
Plans for the public gathering space will
begin after the initial safety measures are
installed.
Photo courtesy of Councilman Costa Constantinides
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
Steinway Street will receive mid-block crosswalks to make it easier
for pedestrians to shop
BY ANGELA MATUA
@ANGELAMATUA