FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 1, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
Steinway St. will get mid-block crosswalks to boost safety
BY ANGELA MATUA
amatua@qns.com / @angelamatua
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 traffi
c lights would be installed along the
busy thoroughfare. Constantinides fi rst
announced his plan to add traffi c 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. Th e
new crosswalks and traffi c lights will be
installed from 30th Avenue through 34th
Avenue. Th e agency will also add painted
curb extensions and planters to shorten
the crossing distance.
Th e thoroughfare has been the scene
of 249 traffi c-related injuries and 95
pedestrian injuries in the past fi ve years,
according to DOT data.
“Th ese traffi c 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 traffi c
for small businesses in the area that may
have been overlooked.
“Th e Steinway BID is very excited to
see these long-awaited pedestrian-friendly
improvements to the Steinway streetscape
being implemented,” she said. “Th e
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.”
Th ese changes will be installed this
spring as part of the fi rst phase of the
project. Th e next phase will include working
on a plan for a public gathering place.
Photo courtesy of Councilman Costa Constantinides
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 aft er the initial safety measures are
installed.
Safety enhancements will be installed along Steinway Street.
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