Seniors Take To The Street After Tragedy

About 40 senior citizens from Bay Terrace braved the bitter cold last week at a rally to get the city to improve the timing of traffic lights at a busy local intersection where an elderly woman was killed last month.
On November 9, 63-year-old Phyllis McLean lost her life as she tried to cross the intersection of 26th Avenue and Corporal Kennedy Street, in front of Scheuer House, the seniors residence where she lived. The death of the wheelchair-bound woman came after years of complaints about the busy crossing.
"We lost a very wonderful person and we dont want to see it happen again," said Hy Keslosky, 72, standing with the other senior citizens at the rally.
Ninety-year-old Laura Goldenberg, a tiny woman grasping a metal walker, agreed. "My life is important and so are the lives of my friends."
Ella Cellucci, 80, was adamant that the city re-evaluate the crossing. "I walk with a cane," she said. "Im very slow crossing the street and the drivers dont give us enough time."
Traffic from the Clearview Expressway pours out onto 26th Avenue near Scheuer House, and many cars also make their way along the street on their way to The Bay Terrace shopping center. Additionally, traffic from nearby exits from the Cross Island Parkway also traverses the area.
Local politicians, including State Senator Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) and Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to address the situation. Avella said he had suggested a "left bay" arrow traffic light to allow time for cars making left turns across traffic. Stavisky supported that suggestion and also proffered the concept of a so-called Barnes Dance, a designation that would give a red light to car traffic in all directions, so pedestrians could cross without fear of being hit by turning cars.
DOT spokesman Tom Cocola said that his agency would consider both those suggestions, as well as possibly lengthening crossing time at the intersection. However, he added that McLean was killed when a car made a right turn into her. Cocola also explained that the DOT had recently done a thorough study of the intersection and found the lights to be working properly.
The Department of City Planning is also conducting a study of traffic flow patterns in the area.