WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JANUARY 9, 2020 3
‘Safe Routes’ project completes safety
upgrades near Ridgewood public school
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
The New York City Department of
Design and Construction (NYCDDC)
announced the completion
of its $11.8 million dollar “Safe Routes
to Schools” project, which included upgrades
to roads around P.S. 239 Police
Offi cer Ramon Suarez School.
The changes for the Ridgewood public
school, located on 1715 Weirfi eld St.,
took about two years to complete.
The upgrades near P.S. 239 include:
utility work on Myrtle Avenue and
Cypress Avenue; installation of new
catch basins and manhole at various
locations; improvement of the drainage
system; installation of a 12-inch water
main; installation of curb extensions,
sidewalks and pedestrian ramps; installation
of a bus pad on Myrtle Avenue;
and reconstruction of Carl Clemens
Park Triangle.
The DOT’s “Safe Routes to Schools”
conducted upgrades along Jamaica
Avenue between 125th Street and 127th
Street and intersections. The project
was part of an initiative to improve
street and pedestrian safety with traffi
c calming measures that would provide
safer travel for parents, children
and all community residents who use
the corridors along and nearby seven
schools in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten
Island.
Community Board 5 District Manager
Gary Giordano said safety measures are
important now more than ever.
“In most cases, whatever can be done
to make conditions safer for pedestrians,
especially children and the elderly
is important,” Giordano told QNS. “I see
too many situations where drivers are
speeding and do not give pedestrians
the right-of-way. And in large measure,
that’s why the city administration and
DOT are doing these safe routes to school
projects, because conditions are getting
more dangerous for pedestrians.”
But according to Giordano, the project
had one outstanding issue: a part of
the sidewalk on Weirfi eld Street and
Myrtle Avenue was “bumped out” on
the wrong side.
Ted Renz, executive director of the
Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement
District (BID) in Ridgewood, explained
that the DOT “bumped out” the sidewalk
on the east side of the street instead of
the west like the CB and BID initially
suggested.
“Some merchants are telling me
people make the illegal left ,” Renz said.
“I don’t know if there’s a way to put a
camera to monitor for a week or so to
see how many people are making the
illegal turn, but even if less people make
the left turn, there’s still the issue of the
right.”
The DOT addressed their concerns in
a statement to QNS.
“The intersection of Weirfi eld Street
and Myrtle Avenue has a historic
left turn ban onto westbound Myrtle
Avenue. DOT revised the roadway geometry
to provide better sight lines for
pedestrians and vehicular traffi c, and
to slow down turning vehicles,” the DOT
stated. “Additionally, the new curb extension
installed at the southeast corner
of this intersection helps narrow the
intersection and shorten the crossing
distances for students, shoppers and
area residents.”
P.S. 239 is located on 1715 Weirfi eld St. Photo via Google Maps
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