ZEROING IN ON QUEENS “We launched Vision Zero in Queens a year ago, and today we proudly return to the world’s borough to release the first of our five groundbreaking Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans,” said Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “These borough plans combine cuttingedge data analysis and community input from thousands of New Yorkers in all five boroughs. They will help the city target its engineering, enforcement and education efforts to make New York’s streets the safest in the world.” The announcement was made at P.S. 82, near the intersection of Metropolitan and Hillside avenues in Kew Gardens, a “priority corridor” slated for a major redesign because of historically high rates of deaths and serious injuries. Since 2011, an average of 43 people in Queens have died in traffic accidents, according to data compiled by the city, and most of these deaths occurred in Flushing, Elmhurst and Jamaica, where there is a high concentration of car and foot traffic. By focusing on intersections and areas in Queens with the highest number of pedestrian deaths, the Department of Transportation identified 72 intersections and 47 corridors that pose the most danger to people and where the highest percentage of car-related deaths have taken place. Many priority corridors are in Ridgewood, including Cypress, Seneca and Forest avenues; Grove and Palmetto streets; and Fresh Pond Road. Other priority corridors in the Times Newsweekly coverage area include Grand Avenue in Maspeth; Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood and Glendale; and Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven. Trottenberg and other officials outlined a series of initiatives that will take two years and, the city hopes, will bring down the average number of pedestrian deaths and injuries in Queens. The initiative is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan. The city, among other things, wants to increase pedestrian crossing times at crosswalks for areas like Northern Boulevard between Queens Plaza and 114th Street; change traffic signals so that they deter people from driving fast on large boulevards that Queens is known for; increase the amount of light in dark underpasses; and expand the bicycle lanes and network. Cops will also take a tougher line on speeding hot spots identified by the city. “We’re going to concentrate our enforcement efforts in these areas,” said NYPD Transportation Chief Thomas Chan. “We’re going to do our best to reduce the number of traffic fatalities.” These plans are the results of years of preparation by the transportation department and community input received during workshops over the last year. The press conference was also attended by local politicians whose areas included some of the dangerous areas. “Thanks to the leadership of Mayor de Blasio and the Vision Zero reforms, New York is now a much safer city for pedestrians,” said City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “However, too many accidents and pedestrian fatalities are still happening here in Queens. I look forward to working with the administration to implement this bold borough-wide plan that will target our most dangerous corridors and make our streets safer.” TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 • 10 DOT Unveils Effort To Increase Traffic Safety Across Borough City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (with microphone) speaks during Tuesday’s Department of Transportation press conference in Kew Gardens regarding a traffic safety crackdown in Queens. (photo: City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley’s Office) by Eric Jankiewicz and Robert Pozarycki City officials are looking to launch the first borough-wide traffic safety crackdown as part of a long-range effort to reduce the number of auto accident deaths, police and transportation officials stated at a press conference in Jamaica on Feb. 17. New Boss Takes Command At NYPD Bk. North by Robert Pozarycki North Brooklyn police precincts have a new boss. Deputy Chief Jeffrey Maddrey took the helm last Friday, Feb. 13, as commanding officer of NYPD Patrol Borough Brooklyn North, which covers 10 precincts including the 83rd in Bushwick, the 90th in Williamsburg and the 94th in Greenpoint. Maddrey replaces Chief Gerald Nelson, who retired last Friday and received a ceremonial walkout from officers at Brooklyn North’s Bushwick headquarters. “Chief Nelson has served the department and this city for more than four decades,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said in a statement last Wednesday, Feb. 11. He credited Nelson for helping police drive homicides down 40.3 percent since he became Brooklyn North commander in 2006. Maddrey, who previously served as executive officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, brings “an excellent record” to his new position, Bratton stated. “Maddrey’s leadership experience, as well as his strong ties within the community, makes him an asset to the department and the people he will serve in his new capacity,” the commissioner said. Beginning his career in 1991 as a beat officer in the Elmhurst-based 110th From left to right: Deputy Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and retired Chief Gerald Nelson. Precinct, Maddrey was promoted in 1998 to the rank of sergeant, then moved up to lieutenant three years later. He served tours at precincts across Brooklyn, including the 60th, 67th, 70th, 72nd, 73rd, 75th and 77th commands. Maddrey continued rising through the ranks in the last decade, from captain in 2003 to deputy chief in 2011. He served as commanding officer at the 73rd and 75th precincts, the Brooklyn South Task Force and Housing Borough Brooklyn. Nelson, meanwhile, served in law enforcement for 42 years. He began his career in 1973 as a member of the New York City Housing Police Department, which later merged with the NYPD. Despite his retirement, Nelson continues to serve as regional vice president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut chapters. RIDGEWOOD HAIR STYLISTS 57-01 Catalpa Ave. (Cor. 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