FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Queensboro Bridge bike and pedestrian lane project stalls
BY KEVIN DUGGAN
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
The overhaul of the Ed Koch-
Queensboro Bridge’s tight pedestrian
and bike lanes is being held up because
city transportation offi cials are worried
about causing congestion amid an
ongoing rehabilitation of the span’s
upper-level roadway.
Th e Department of Transportation will
start work by year-end to redesign the
shared path on the bridge’s outer roadways,
but the agency won’t complete the
project until they fi nish replacing the
upper deck of the 119-year-old span in
late 2022.
DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman
told reporters during Mayor Bill de
Blasio’s daily press briefi ng on Nov. 2
that the new lanes would open as soon
as early 2022.
“We’re committed to getting
Queensboro Bridge done,” Gutman said.
“Th e construction is proceeding and we
will get as far as the weather permits us
this year before winter weather slows us
down, but we’re looking to have it done
early next year.”
DOT’s press offi ce later followed up
to say their boss “misspoke” and that,
while the agency will begin work this
year and provide an updated schedule in
the spring, offi cials want to wrap up the
roadwork above fi rst.
“Work will start this year, but the commissioner
misspoke — it will not be complete
in early 2022, due to the work that
must be completed on the road decks.
We will provide an updated completion
date once work recommences in the
spring,” said spokesman Scott Gastel in
an email.
Gastel did not detail what kind of work
will start in the coming weeks or when
exactly it would begin.
Mayor Bill de Blasio fi rst announced
his plans to give more space to cyclists
and pedestrians on the Queensboro and
Brooklyn bridges in his State of the City
address in January.
While the Brooklyn Bridge’s new bike
lane opened in September to much fanfare
from the city and praise from bike
advocates, the Queens project has been
slower to get going.
Th e existing lane is a notorious squeeze
for both pedal pushers and pedestrians
who have to fend for space.
Th e city’s plan would make the northern
outer roadway bike-only and ban
cars from the southern outer roadway
to turn it into a walkway, mimicking the
setup on the Manhattan Bridge.
But DOT wants to keep the southern
lane open for vehicles for as long as it
works to renovate the upper roadway, in
order to keep car traffi c moving.
“South outer roadway must be available
for traffi c at key times during upper
deck construction to reduce local traffi
c issues, based on fi ndings from traffi c
study and analysis,” according to a DOT
presentation from May.
Th e agency targeted late 2022 for the
walkway’s implementation, the slides
read, coinciding with the above roadway’s
fi x.
One car lane is closed at all times for
the work, but sometimes the city takes
two out of service. Th at still leaves six or
seven lanes open for vehicles.
“Th ere is a massive rehabilitation going
on on the Queensboro Bridge, but that
the administration, obviously we want
to make it safe for both pedestrians and
cyclists,” Nicole Garcia told Community
Board 2’s Transportation Committee on
Nov. 1. “Before we conceived of this bikeped
separate paths, that contract is well
out the door. It’s very important.”
“Th e Queensboro Bridge is the workhorse
of all of the East River bridges, so
it carries more cars than the other ones
— but that’s not to say safety isn’t our priority
for bikes and peds,” the rep added.
Between 84,000-89,000 cars cross the
Queensboro each way on an average
day, compared to 48,000-51,000 on the
Brooklyn Bridge, fi gures from the April
presentation show.
DOT monthly bike counts show that
numbers surged to more than 200,000
during the summer bike boom of 2020,
but the latest fi gures from 2021 show a
decline to around 175,000 in August, still
above pre-pandemic levels of 144,000.
Queens reps. call for increased Jamaica Bay protections
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
On the ninth anniversary of Superstorm
Sandy — which devastated low-lying
coastal communities that surround
Jamaica Bay when it crashed ashore on
Oct. 29, 2012 — Congressman Hakeem
Jeff ries and members of the New York
Congressional delegation representing
Queens and Brooklyn sent a letter to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting
already approved funds be used on
ecosystem restoration projects to benefi
t the bay.
“While it’s been nearly a decade since
Superstorm Sandy, many Americans continue
to feel its devastating eff ects. Today,
the Jamaica Bay area remains vulnerable
to extreme weather events,” the members
wrote. “We were reminded of this disturbing
fact last month, when Hurricane Ida
and its remnants caused torrential downpours
and signifi cant fl ooding in lowlying
neighborhoods, tragically killing 16
people in New York. Th e storm demonstrated
that our constituents and local
businesses remain at risk, and the communities
we represent need more assistance.”
In September, Congress passed, and
President Joe Biden signed into law, a
Disaster Supplemental to provide $28.6
billion in relief funding, including $100
million for high-priority projects in
states that were aff ected by Hurricane
Ida. Th e Spring Creek South Ecosystem
Restoration and Coastal Storm Risk
Management Study is a high priority for
New York City constituents who would
signifi cantly benefi t from the proposed
measure, the representatives wrote in
the letter.
“Th e Spring Creek South study will
recommend a comprehensive, integrated
solution to provide Howard Beach residents
with a resilient and environmentally
sustainable shoreline, providing longneeded
storm risk management benefi ts
and restoring critical habitat,” they wrote.
Jeff ries was joined by Senators Charles
Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand along
with Representatives Gregory Meeks,
Grace Meng, Nydia Velázquez and
Jerrold Nadler.
Th ey also called for full funding of Th e
Stony Creek Marsh Island project, within
Jamaica Bay, which will restore a total
of 62 acres of habitat, including 49 acres
of wetland, 3.5 acres of scrub/shrub and
1.4 acres of channel habitats, while providing
critical secondary coastal storm
risk management benefi ts to the adjacent
communities.
“Th ese two projects represent signifi -
cant steps in our eff orts to protect vulnerable
New Yorkers from the threat of
future coastal storms and provide critical
ecosystem services to Jamaica Bay
and the neighborhoods that surround
it,” they wrote. “Th erefore, we respectfully
request that you provide full funding
for both projects in your plan for the
Disaster Supplemental.”
File photo
Cyclists and pedestrians on the Queensboro Bridge shared path.
QNS fi le photo
Marking the ninth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Queens and Brooklyn members of Congress are
urging funding to protect communities around Jamaica Bay.
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