2 times • FEBRUARY 25, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Wyckoff Avenue could soon be closed for Ridgewood pedestrian plaza By Anthony Giudice [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Part of Wyckoff Avenue in Ridgewood may eventually be closed and transformed into the neighborhood’s newest pedestrian plaza. In an attempt to curb dangerous driver and pedestrian activity, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has come up with a bold plan to permanently close the one-block segment of Wyckoff Avenue between Gates and Myrtle avenues for the plaza. DOT officials presented the idea to the Community Board 5 (CB 5) Transportation and Public Transit committees during their combined monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23. “There are some serious safety needs at Myrtle/Wyckoff and Palmetto Street,” said Nicole Garcia, DOT’s Queens Borough Commissioner. “It is a Vision Zero priority intersection and we’ve made several safety iterations and we think this time, maybe we have one of the most robust safety improvements that we can make. It actually reduces the turning options DOT has introduced plans to create a pedestrian plaza at the intersection of Wyckoff Avenue, Myrtle Avenue and Palmetto Street. from 26 to five. So we really think we can address the critical safety needs here.” This proposed plaza would reduce confusion of drivers and pedestrians by limiting the number of maneuvers vehicles can make and allowing safe access to the L/M train station and bus terminals. In 2014, DOT banned five of the 26 vehicle movements at the intersection. The plaza proposal would drop that number down to seven possible movements, making it safer for both drivers and pedestrians. “We don’t think drivers are going into that intersection with the intention of making the wrong turns and putting people’s lives at risk,” Garcia said. “We want to clarify those traffic movements, and we think that we will get the biggest bang for the buck by knocking out this area and reducing the turning possibilities.” DOT is aiming to conduct a workshop Rendering courtesy Community Board 5 on this project next month where they will get feedback from the communities involved. That will be followed by an official presentation to the community boards — CB 5 and Brooklyn Community Board 4 — for a recommendation. The hope is to have this plaza installed by the end of the summer. The committees had little opposition to the plan at this point, but agreed to wait until hearing feedback during the community workshops and an official proposal from DOT. Due to the location of the bus terminal, DOT has to work with the MTA on how the bus routes would be affected by this plaza. The implementation of this pedestrian plaza would lead to other traffic-related changes including converting Wyckoff Avenue into a one-way southbound between Myrtle and Putnam avenues and converting Wyckoff Avenue into a one-way street Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association JOIN US Thursday March 3, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Ridgewood Presbyterian Church (Ridgewood Older Adult Center entrance) 59-14 70th Street between Forest & 60th Avenues Special Guest Speaker Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley sharing her vision for Ridgewood . Accompanying Councilwoman Crowley will be Representatives of The Pratt Center for Community Development also NYFD Firefighter Jones Who will teach us about fire prevention and home safety He will distribute smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to members only A light repast will follow immediately, catered by Frank’s Deli of Maspeth, Queens Sandwiches, salads coffee & tea will be served Donated by KERZNER REALTY, INC The Queens Courier certified as woman-owned business Schneps Publications Inc., which does business as The Queens Courier, has been certified as a woman-owned business enterprise by the Empire State Development’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development. The certification took effect on Feb. 8 and lasts for one year. It enables Schneps Publications to enter into contract with various state agencies that are obligated to conduct a portion of their business with official women- and minority-owned businesses across the state. “I’m delighted to be certified as a woman-owned business, to be able to provide services to companies who foster doing business with women,” said Victoria Schneps, publisher of Schneps Publications.
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