8 The QUENS Courier • april 2, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com First phase of $100M Queens Boulevard redesign to be implemented by August BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 The voices of a concerned community have been heard, and by August, the first segment of the redesign of what is known as the “Boulevard of Death” is expected to be implemented to make it safer. The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on March 31 that it would be releasing a detailed preliminary plan to redesign a 1.3-mile portion of Queens Boulevard. The plan is based on community input gathered during a safety workshop held on Jan. 22 in Woodside. This project, which will be reviewed by Community Board 2 and is expected to be implemented in August, launches the start of the DOT’s $100 million Green Streets initiative, which will cover all seven miles of Queens Boulevard. The agency plans to hold more public workshops during the fall and winter for the future phases of the initiative, from 73rd Street to Eliot Avenue and from Eliot Avenue to Union Turnpike. “After decades of crashes, many of them fatal, this corridor has been reimagined and will be redesigned to become a safer, greener and more attractive corridor for residents and businesses, suitable to traverse through the World’s Borough,” DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said. The first phase of the redesign, which includes the installation of a protected bike lane, covers the 1.3-mile stretch of the thoroughfare between Roosevelt Avenue and 73rd Street. The agency previously said it decided to focus on this section first because statistics showed there have been six fatalities since 2009 in that particular area. Some of the features of the first redesign segment include safer crossings, increased pedestrian space and improved intersections. The preliminary plan also looks to calm the traffic on service roads and try to reduce the number of times drivers move between the main line and service roads. Unique redesigns include a protected bike lane integrated into a widened service road median, with new pedestrian space and median-to-median crossings that “allow for a linear park-like experience,” according to the DOT. “This work represented a major advancement in the efforts to achieve Vision Zero throughout our city,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said. “Thanks to the work of the DOT, we are seeing significant improvements in traffic safety in western Queens, and we look forward to seeing Queens Boulevard safety improvements thanks to this $100 million capital investment.” Images courtesy of the Department of Transportation BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID TO HOLD APRIL 14 HEARING ON LOCAL PARKING WOES BY ROBERT POZARYCKI firm to examine parking problems in the area [email protected]/@robbpoz around Bell Boulevard and form potential short- and long-term solutions. It is reportedly part of a revived Those having a hard time finding parking near attempt to fix parking problems in the area launched Bayside’s Bell Boulevard can vent their frustrations at more than a decade ago. a special public hearing the Bayside Village Business In a letter, Bayside Village BID Executive Director Improvement District (BID) will hold on the topic on Lyle Sclair said that attendees will learn information Tuesday, April 14. on some of the “best practices from across the region.” Residents, drivers and merchants alike are invited BID members and residents can also share their ideas to attend the session scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. and input on how to ease the pain for all drivers. at Bayside United Methodist Church, located at 38-20 Meanwhile, Sclair urged local businesses to sign a Bell Blvd. pledge that they would keep spots in front of their The Bayside Village BID, with the assistance of shops free as much as possible. Councilman Paul Vallone, recently hired an engineering “Many of the business owners signed a pledge that they and their workers would not park on Bell Boulevard in the metered spots that are designed for customers,” Sclair wrote. “We understand that you may need to use the parking in front of your business for pickups and deliveries. The pledge is not meant to discourage you from using the space in front of your store for business operations, but once you are done, please move your car to the surrounding side streets.” BID members who cannot attend the April 14 meeting may schedule one-on-one consultations regarding the plan earlier that day from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the BID’s office located at 213-39 39th Ave., Suite 310. For more information, visit www.baysidevillagebid. com or call 718-423-2434.
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