FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 12, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
Infrastructure project to prevent fl ooding in
SE Queens neighborhood nears completion
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
A $12 million project is near completion
NYC Department of Design and Construction
Road restoration on 130th Avenue after a new sewer and catch basins were installed.
MTA to install over 100 security cameras
in Forest Hills, Rego Park subway stations
BY MAX PARROTT
mparrott@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e MTA announced a plan last week
to install around 138 new security cameras
between four subway stations in Forest
Hills and Rego Park to help the NYPD
monitor and deter crime in the area.
Th e plan was sparked by an incident last
March when a 21-year-old man was shot
in the leg in the 75th Avenue subway platform.
According to amNew York Metro,
offi cers looked through security footage
from nearby businesses for possible surveillance
images of the suspects following
the incident, but it didn’t immediately
lead to the identifi cation of the suspects.
Aft er Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi
off ered up $250,000 in funding toward
the project, the MTA was able to work
with the 112th Precinct and the 112th
Community Council to execute the additional
security measures.
“I am thrilled that Assemblyman
Hevesi was able to secure the funding
and achieve this result of permanently
improving our community’s safety by the
installation of these cameras,” said 112th
Precinct Community Council President
Heidi Harrison Chain.
In the wake of the shooting, Chain
snapped into action, though she said that
the her experience monitoring crime with
the precinct council had put the idea on
her radar for a while. As has been documented
across the fi ve boroughs over the
past year, Chain said that she has noticed
a correspondent rise in subway crimes in
her precinct.
“Th is is really a permanent improvement
for our safety because once they
have it there hopefully it will be a deterrent,”
Chain said.
While the plans for the installation have
yet to be fi nalized, the proposal is to
install approximately 37 cameras at the
75th Avenue station, approximately 37
cameras at Forest Hills/71st Avenue station,
approximately 21 cameras at 67th
Avenue, and 63rd Drive/Rego Park station.
“Heidi cannot be thanked enough
for her contributions to our communities,
which are most recently on display
through her role in securing these cameras.
I also want to thank our former
Commanding Offi cer Jonathan Cermeli
and Captain Mullaney for their eff orts,
and every member of 112th Precinct for
ensuring that our neighborhoods remain
among the safest in the city,” Hevesi said.
in Rosedale to improve street conditions,
alleviate fl ooding and upgrade
infrastructure, according to the NYC
Department of Design and Construction.
Th e project, which will be completed
in spring, is one season ahead of schedule
and is $1.36 million below the original
budget. It is funded by the DDC and
the NYC Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP).
It’s a $1.9 billion investment by the de
Blasio Administration to build a comprehensive
drainage system and alleviate
fl ooding in neighborhoods throughout
southeast Queens. Th e program, the
largest of its kind, consists of 43 projects.
“Investing $1.9 billion to upgrade drainage
in southeast Queens means there are
shovels in the ground in many neighborhoods
and we are pleased to report that
we have completed our work in Rosedale
one season ahead of schedule,” said DEP
Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “Th ank
you to our partners at DDC for bringing
this project ahead of schedule and under
budget.”
Work occurred on 27 individual blocks.
Nearly one mile (5,265 feet) of new storm
sewers and 115 feet of new combined
sewers were added. An additional 2,050
feet of combined sewers were replaced
over the length of the project to expand
and upgrade drainage capacity. To better
capture stormwater and direct it to the
new storm sewers, 10 new catch basins
were installed and 39 catch basins were
replaced.
To improve the long-term reliability
of the water delivery system, 425 feet of
water mains were replaced. For increased
access to the sewers and water mains,
57 new manholes were added and 22
manholes were replaced. Th ree accessways
were newly installed on Brookville
Boulevard in Conselyea Park and an
accessway on Lakeview Boulevard in
Baisley Pond Park was extended to give
DEP better access to maintain the outfalls.
As part of the fi nal street restoration,
which will be completed in the spring
when the weather is consistently 40
degrees or higher, 6,728 feet of roadway
will be laid down with a two-inch overlay.
Th roughout the Conselyea Park area, 525
plants will be planted.
Local lawmakers commended the DDC
and DEP’s eff orts to improve the quality of
life in the neighborhood with an upgraded
infrastructure system.
“Rosedale residents have long dealt
with chronic fl ooding on roadways and
in their homes,” Senator Leroy Comrie
said. “I commend Mayor de Blasio and
Commissioners Grillo and Sapienza for
not only making signifi cant investments in
infrastructure improvements in Rosedale,
but also for getting the work done early.
Th ese enhancements will result in a higher
quality of life for local residents.”
According to DDC Commissioner
Lorraine Grillo, the southeast Queens initiative
is the largest investment of its kind
by the city, and represents a major commitment
to an area that has been historically
underserved.
“Th ere have been several recent projects
to upgrade infrastructure in Rosedale,
and we thank the community for their
cooperation as the city works to alleviate
fl ooding and improve streets in the neighborhood,”
Grillo said.
Photo via Wikipedia Commons
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