April 9, 2014 By Michael Florio
Many Astoria residents continue to complain about 21st Street—arguing that the roadway is hazardous.
Juliana Dubousky, an Astoria resident, called on the Department of Transportation at a recent town hall meeting to list 21st Street as a Vision Zero priority.
She said that 21st Street was extremely dangerous, since so many people speed along the wide roadway and often don’t pay attention.
Throughout the year, the DOT will be announcing a total of 50 dangerous locations, which will undergo an extensive redesign as part of Vision Zero. The DOT has just started working on redesigning the Northern Blvd/61st Street intersection.
“Cars go too fast [down 21st street] and there are not appropriate speed measures,” said Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas. There is a real need for the street to be redesigned to prevent accidents, she said.
Councilman Costa Constantinides also called for the redesign of 21st Street under Vision Zero. “Traffic flows need to be improved, whether it’s through better-timed countdown clocks for pedestrians, well-maintained crosswalks or traffic lights,” he said.
Dalila Hall, the Queens Commissioner for the Department of Transportation, had heard these calls before. “We will continue to work on that,” Hall said.
Another resident complained that 21st Street had too many potholes and that they were causing damage to people’s vehicles.
Hall attributed to potholes to a brutal winter and 21st Streets high traffic volume.
The Department of Transportation will be holding a Vision Zero town hall in Astoria on May 21st at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (29-19 24th Ave.)
Details to come.
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