FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com february 13, 2014 • The Courier SUN 25 DANGEROUS CROSSINGS FOUR QUEENS ROADWAYS SOME OF MOST UNSAFE BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] As Mayor Bill de Blasio and other local leaders push to lower traffic deaths, a new report has identified four Queens roadways as some of the most dangerous for pedestrians. The analysis, from the Tri- State Transportation Campaign, a nonprofit policy watchdog organization, found that from 2010 to 2012, Woodhaven Boulevard had the most pedestrian deaths, with eight fatalities. It was ranked sixth overall out of 12 counties in downstate New York and the second worst in the city, behind Broadway in Manhattan. Tied with the 14th most deaths were Union Turnpike, Queens Boulevard and Northern Boulevard, which had five fatalities each. Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard, nicknamed the “Boulevard of Death,” were new to the list this year. “Queens Boulevard is definitely an unsafe road,” Woodhaven resident Hermina Diaz said. “I see people crossing the street when the light is red all the time, and I also see cars speeding by to not get stuck at the red light.” An eight-year-old Woodside boy was killed on his way to school in December when a truck driver, who was operating his vehicle with a suspended license, hit him at the intersection of 61st Street and Northern Boulevard. On January 15, de Blasio launched his Vision Zero initiative, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero within the next 10 years, at the site of the child’s school. Nearly 60 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred on arterial roadways, multi-lane roads that often have speed limits of 40 mph or more and little pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, according to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign analysis. “We can save lives by building complete streets with protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks and pedestrian safety islands,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of advocacy group Transportation Alternatives. “It is clear more needs to be done to ensure pedestrian safety throughout the City of New York, but especially here in Queens,” said Congressmember Joseph Crowley. Crowley, together with Assemblymember Francisco Moya and advocacy group Make Queens Safer, held a town hall meeting in Jackson Heights on Sunday, February 9 to receive suggestions from community members on how to improve pedestrian safety in the area. Attendees spoke about dangerous intersections, signal timing, street lights, enforcement, and the need for and lack of crossing guards, according to Make Queens Safer co-founder Cristina Furlong. “We were able to make connections in different community groups that are interested in making Queens safer,” she said. -With additional reporting by Katelyn Di Salvo and Angy Altamirano Northern Boulevard, where an eight-year-old boy was fatally struck in December, was named one the most dangerous for pedestrians in a recent report. THE COURIER/Photo by Angy Altamirano WESLEY HITNER, CPA F r e s h M e a d o w s , N Y 1 1 3 6 6 718-465-3466 This tax season, have your taxes prepared in the comfort of your home. I make house calls. I am a CPA with over 25 years of experience. Other services include small business/corporation accounting and taxes. NO JOB IS TOO SMALL. CALL ME FOR A FREE CONSULTATION Astrology Healing Center • Healing products for sale • Soulmate Specialist Special - One free question by phone Valentine Life and Love Special Reading - $10 516-312-5706 A Pooled Trust is Your Solution When a Private Trust is Not the Right Option At Life’s WORC we have been helping families find innovative solutions to support their loved ones with disabilities for more than 40 years. When your client’s family includes a child or adult with disabilities, Traumatic brain injury or Autism you can count on Life’s WORC Pooled Trusts. Our Pooled Trusts offer financial tools that enable your client to put aside money for the future care of their family member while protecting the government entitlement benefits crucial to their well-being – and help ensure they lead a fulfilling and productive life well into the future. Life’s WORC Pooled Trusts: Building a secure future on a solid foundation. At Life’s WORC we offer three types of Pooled Trusts: Self-Settled Pooled Trusts – secures beneficiary owned funds from personal injury settlements, medical malpractice or proceeds from life insurance. Third Party Pooled Trusts – secures funds from family members: parents, grandparents and loved ones and does not need to be funded with today’s dollars. Surplus Income Trusts – enables a beneficiary to qualify for Medicaid benefits and will pay monthly household expenses. Start helping your clients build a secure financial future for their loved ones today. To find out more about Life’s WORC Pooled Trusts, contact us: 516-34-TRUST (348-7878) E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.lifesworctrust.org
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