WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 16, 2019 3
Eyeing ways to get Fresh Pond moving
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@RIDGEWOODTIMES
On a recent walking tour of
Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood,
Councilman Robert Holden
made a series of recommendations to
the city Department of Transportation
(DOT) in regard to the launch of a
dedicated bus lane along between
Metropolitan and Myrtle Avenues.
As part of Mayor Bill de
Blasio’s Better Buses Action
Plan announced in April, the
sluggish section of Fresh Pond
Road between Metropolitan and
Putnam Avenues was among many
across the city that would get a
bus lane to address congestion on
the thoroughfare.
During the walking tour,
Holden suggested bet ter
light synchronization, consolidating
bus stops and methods to keep
the way clear for riders to board
and disembark.
“My staff and I gave many alternate
suggestions on how the DOT can
improve traffic flow on Fresh
Pond Road,” Holden said. “We look
forward to working in partnership
going forward to determine what
can be done to make this area much
safer and less congested.”
Holden also placed emphasis
on the intersection near Putnam
Avenue, where he said the nearby
Fresh Pond Bus Depot and delivery
vehicles put an additional strain on
traffic conditions.
The mayor hopes that road
redesigns giving priority to public
transit, speeds will increase by 25
percent by 2020 and complement
congestion pricing in Manhattan
when it is finally implemented after
about two years since Governor
Andrew Cuomo went public with
a proposal.
According to a DOT spokesman,
the agency has not finalized a plan
and will be reaching out to local
officials upon completion.
“Making it easier to get around
our city means New Yorkers have
more time for what matters most
– for their family and themselves,”
de Blasio said in April during his
announcement. “These measures
are part of our OneNYC strategy
to build a fairer, better city for
all. They complement congestion
pricing, helping us fix our
subways and reduce traffic delays
to get our city moving.”
The proposal also has the backing
of Assemblywoman Catherine
Nolan who said improvements to
Fresh Pond were long overdue.
Fresh Pond Road sees not only
local traf fic between Middle
Village and Ridgewood, but the
two-lane road also accommodates
the Q58, QM24, QM25 and QM34.
Each of these bus lines see a
daily ridership of about 30,000,
the de Blasio administration said,
and average bus speeds are 5.9
miles per hour in the morning
hours and 3 miles per hour in
the evening.
City Councilman Robert Holden and Department of Transportation offi cials
on a walking tour of Fresh Pond Road.
Photo via Facebook/Council Member Robert Holden
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