6 The QUEE NS Courier • may 1, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ‘DANGEROUS’ ELMHURST INTERSECTION TO GET CROSSING GUARD BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 Pedestrians and schoolchildren will soon be able to safely cross a busy Elmhurst intersection. Last year, state Sen. Jose Peralta called on the Department of Transportation to study the intersection of Junction Boulevard and the Horace Harding Expressway and restore a school crossing guard to ensure the safety of pedestrians, especially schoolchildren, who cross the “dangerous” thoroughfare. P.S. 206, located at 61-02 98th St., is near the heavily trafficked area. Students cross the intersection on their way between home and school every day. “The children and the parents are in great danger each time they navigate this intersection because the drivers do not drive with care or follow traffic regulations,” P.S. 206 Principal Joan Thomas wrote in February, requesting the assignment of a school crossing guard. “In addition, we have had some instances in which some of our walkers have been harassed on their way to school in the morning and there is no adult present who can assist them.” The 110th and 112th Precincts had previously told Peralta that a crossing THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano The 112th Precinct will soon assign a crossing guard at a busy intersection, where students from P.S. 206 cross daily getting to and from school. guard was not assigned to the area because guards are stationed at other nearby intersections. Now, after Peralta renewed the call for a crossing guard once Vision Zero was implemented, he has learned that the 112th Precinct will assign a crossing guard to P.S. 206 in the upcoming months. “This is a very dangerous intersection for children and there’s simply no substitute for the direct, hands-on traffic control and help that a crossing guard provides to kids,” Peralta said. ”Thankfully, a crossing guard will finally be reinstated there.” Interactive map asks for traffic safety input BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] @CristabelleT The city is asking residents to help map out a plan to reduce traffic deaths. As part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative, the Department of Transportation (DOT) just released an interactive map on its website to help create a traffic safety plan in the five boroughs. The goal of Vision Zero, which Mayor Bill de Blasio launched in January, is to end trafficrelated deaths for both drivers and pedestrians. Currently, the city is gathering information from the Screenshot via visionzero.herokuapp.com The city released an interactive map to help it develop its Vision Zero traffic safety plan with input from residents. public to help improve safety at intersections and corridors as it develops its plan. The website is an online complement to in-person mapping exercises that are part of the ongoing series of Vision Zero workshops that are taking place throughout the five boroughs, according to a DOT spokeswoman. Those who cannot attend the workshops can still provide input on traffic safety in their neighborhoods and contribute to the Vision Zero plan through the map. With the map, at visionzero.herokuapp. com, users can mark a specific location, then indicate an issue, such as “not enough time to cross,” “speeding” or “jaywalking,” and provide more i n f o rmation about the problem if needed. Users can also agree with and give a written response to other comments. To provide i n - p e r s o n input, there will be Vision Zero town hall meetings on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at I.S. 231, 139-00 Springfield Blvd.; on Wednesday, May 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bohemian Hall, 29-19 24th Ave.; and on Tuesday, May 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153- 10 Jamaica Ave. 718-878-3829
QC05012014
To see the actual publication please follow the link above