Maspeth gets $100G to warn trucks away

Ask Maspeth residents what complaints they have about their neighborhood, and many will respond that there is too much truck traffic. Oftentimes, trucks use Grand Avenue as an alternative to the Long Island Expressway creating traffic, noise, and pollution.
Congressman Joseph Crowley and Anthony Weiner have taken the first steps in what they hope will reduce traffic congestion by securing $100,000 in federal funds that will warn truck drivers to stay off these roads.
“For far too long trucks have used detours of their own making, oftentimes getting lost on streets they are not familiar with, causing traffic backups here in Maspeth and along the Maspeth/Middle Village corridor,” Crowley said. “It has wreaked havoc on the streets of Maspeth and Middle Village.”
Crowley and Weiner obtained the $100,000 in federal funds for additional signage through the TEA-LU Transportation Appropriations bill, which was signed into law last year. Funds would provide additional signage along three routes in the Maspeth area: the Long Island Expressway Eastbound Service Road at 74th Street to Caldwell Avenue; Grand Avenue from 69th Street to Flushing Avenue; and Eliot Avenue from 69th Street to Woodhaven Boulevard.
“Maspeth residents’ safety shouldn’t be shortcut by delivery trucks trying to avoid Long Island Expressway traffic,” Weiner said. “The funds for this project will provide families with relief from the noise, pollution and bodily harm caused by off-route commercial trucks.”
Improved signage is among the top recommendations from the emerging Truck Route Management and Community Impact Reduction Study currently underway by the New York City Department of Transportation. It is expected to complete the study by the end of the summer.
Assemblywoman Margaret Markey and Senator Serphin Maltese joined Crowley and Weiner in support of these funds, but they both said more should be done to fix this problem.
“Signage is an important piece of the puzzle, but we must remain constant on the enforcement of these rules of the road.”