Planning for a safer Northern Blvd.
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | FEB. 7-FEB. 13, 2020 5
BY BILL PARRY
A progressive, insurgent Assembly
candidate from Jackson
Heights has presented a radical
plan to end the carnage of
Northern Boulevard, the most
dangerous roadway in Queens.
Jessica González-Rojas
presented her bold plan surrounded
by community leaders,
small business owners
and transportation advocates
at 80th Street and Northern
Boulevard, where 11-year-old
Miguel Torres was struck and
killed in 2012.
“We must end the ‘Boulevard
of Death’ once and for all,”
González-Rojas said. “I am running
for New York State Assembly
to be a leader in confronting
the major challenges facing
our community. I am willing
to fight for a better future with
cleaner air, safer streets and
faster commutes. We can build
a coalition of community members
to bring about transformative
change and improve the
lives of everyone.”
Her plan called Green New
Northern, would restrict access
to the thoroughfare to only buses,
emergency vehicles between
Queens Plaza and 114th Street.
It would allow for Northern
Boulevard to run express bus
service to Manhattan, safer
crossing for students and seniors,
and reduced air pollution
from cars on a 4.3-mile stretch
from the Grand Central Parkway
to Queens Plaza, where
there have been 2,783 reported
crashes since 2017 injuring 73
cyclists, 129 pedestrians and
549 motorists, with six pedestrian
deaths, she said.
González-Rojas will challenge
Assemblyman Michael
DenDekker who she accused of
being supportive of the car culture.
DenDekker has not faced
a primary or general election
opponent since he was sent to
Albany in 2008.
“I have not seen the entirety
of the plan, but as I have said
before, everything is on the
table when it comes to pedestrian
safety, combating climate
change and improving
bus transit,” DenDekker said.
“From what I heard about the
plan, I believe others have
proposed similar suggestions
to the New York City Department
of Transportation. I will
reserve judgement until NYC
DOT comes out with the results
of their study on the Northern
Boulevard redesign.”
González-Rojas noted that
nearly two dozen schools are
within walking distance of
Northern Boulevard and that
more than 2,500 young children
are endangered simply by
walking to school.
“As a small-business owner
on Northern Boulevard,
we are very aware of the dangers
this highway poses to our
community. It has physically
divided the neighborhood for
years and has caused many
tragic and needless deaths,”
Queensboro Restaurant Owner
Dudly Stewart said. “It is
time to focus on pedestrians,
and not cars. All of the familyowned,
local businesses on
Northern Boulevard will benefit
from having less traffic
speeding through our neighborhoods.
Improving bus
service, creating bike lanes,
and slowing traffic so that
pedestrians can finally shop
and stroll along the boulevard
will be much safer and much
better for business.”
As he awaits the DOT redesign
plan, DenDekker points
out the stretch of Northern
Boulevard in question crosses
several district lines from Long
Island City to Corona.
“I can only speak to the
stretch of Northern Boulevard
within my district, which is between
Junction Boulevard and
56th Street,” DenDekker said.
“I believe other elected officials
on the city, state and federal levels
that represent other parts of
Northern Boulevard will also
have to be consulted.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Assembly candidate Jessica González-Rojas presents her plan for
street safety along Northern Boulevard.
Courtesy of Gonzalez-Rojas’ campaign
We take the occasion of Black History Month
to recognize and salute the
African-American community whose
historic accomplishments have expanded
opportunity for all Americans.
CONGRESSMAN
GREGORY W. MEEKS
– Paid for and authorized by Friends for Gregory Meeks –
@GregMeeksNYC
@GregMeeksNYC
@GregMeeksNYC
5th Congressional
District of New York
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