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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com AUGUST 7, 2014 • THE COURIER SUN 23 SNAPS QUEENS Having fun at PS 164 Photo: B. Israel The Courier is awarding dinner for two (a $50 value) each week to the reader who submits the best summer shot. Please send your snaps (high resolution, What do you think about the Ebola outbreak? “It is a bit worrisome because there is always a slight possibility it might become widespread.” Rebecca Kalman “I am not concerned. Ebola is mostly confi ned in African countries and I am 94 years old. I can’t be concerned with something too remote. I am concerned about my wife and my health.” Aaron G. “It is nothing to be worried about as long as it’s not widespread in America.” Ranjit Singh “I trust the government will do something right to control it if there is an outbreak here.” David Han “I am not too worried but if our borders are wide open, anybody can walk in and spread it.” John Nicoletti “There’s nothing to be concerned about. America is the toughest and if this government can’t take care of it then I don’t know.” Jimmy Chen oped street talk  “I am so scared to travel anywhere.” Sandra Rp “I am not really nervous. There are travel restrictions preventing those who have it from coming in.” Norman Gordon if possible) to editorial@queenscourier.com. BY PAULINA TAM and CHRIS BUMBACA THE LATEST ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND REDUCE AGGRAVATION ON WOODHAVEN AND CROSSBAY BOULEVARDS BY STATE SEN. JOSEPH P. ADDABBO Metal structures hanging over sections of Woodhaven Boulevard having been popping up and I continue to hear from constituents with questions as to what they are, what will be done with them and what they can expect for the future of one of the busiest thoroughfares in the borough. The answer is the NYC Department of Transportation’s (DOT) newlyimplemented initiative, Select Bus Service. Mimicking other cities’ Bus Rapid Transit, Select Bus Service is essentially intended to make riding the bus similar to riding the subway. It incorporates dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare collection and transit signal priority to offer theoretically faster and more reliable service on highridership routes, such as those along Woodhaven Boulevard. The metal poles you see on your daily drives will hold “bus lane” signs, and, according to local news sources, will be activated during peak traffi c hours. Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards collectively transport 30,000 riders each day via public transportation. However, the congestion along this route, especially during rush hour, is enough to make the average driver crazy. That is why the DOT launched a study on about three miles of Woodhaven Boulevard from Queens Boulevard down to Rockaway Boulevard, from Rego Park, to Woodside, to Arverne, respectively. The study found not only can buses be caught in congestion, creating slow service, and the layout of the street makes bus stops diffi cult for riders to reach, but these factors and more make Woodhaven Boulevard one of the most dangerous corridors in the city for both drivers and pedestrians. The study hopes to convert the existing Limited-Stop Q52 and Q53 bus routes to the Select Bus Service, ultimately improving and quickening service. The idea is, if the service is more reliable, commuters will be more willing to use buses over cars. Faster and better service could then potentially reduce traffi c along the congested route. My constituents from surrounding communities have expressed concerns about losing street-side parking, traffi c stemming from confusion of the new system and whether Select Bus Service would lead to a reduction of local buses. I am also aware of business owners’ concern about delivery drop-offs and pick-ups, and whether the bus lane will hinder trucks ability to stop curbside. Along Woodhaven Boulevard between Eliot and Metropolitan Avenue, bus lanes will be offset from the curb and not affect any parking. Curbside bus lanes will run through Plattwood and Liberty Avenues, and Rockaway Boulevard and 101st Avenue. While there has been no time frame scheduled for the start of the program, the DOT will host its next public meeting in the fall. I will be meeting with the Steering Committee of the Bus Rapid Transit and other transportation advocates to address these concerns before the service becomes permanent. The idea of this program and a dedicated bus lane has been mentioned numerous times in local papers and community meetings throughout the past year. In early 2013, Select Bus Service was suggested as an option for Woodhaven Boulevard to alleviate the traffi c nightmare. In 2012, the DOT implemented a number of short-term enhancements on the route, but Select Bus Service is the long-term answer. The metal structures now popping up are a sign of this program moving forward. I encourage my constituents to let me know of their concerns and how they believe the new system would work. Only by working together, we will see improvement on both Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards.


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