Dangerous intersection in Flushing

Assemblymember Jimmy Meng and Community Board 7's District Manager Marilyn Bitterman were joined by local small business owners at the corner of Main Street and 41st Avenue in Flushing on Thursday, December 28 to draw attention to this dangerous intersection.
Meng read a letter he sent to the Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting a traffic study to assess the possible placement of a left-turn signal/arrow for cars traveling northbound on Main Street and turning left onto 41st Avenue. &#8220There is a left turn bay. All that is needed is the turn signal,” Meng said.
Bitterman endorsed Meng's request and added that, &#8220This location is in close proximity to the Community Board office, and there are times when both drivers and pedestrians come into direct conflict when pedestrians are trying to cross the street, and drivers want to make the turn.” She also pointed out that DOT has put in a turning bay, but without a turning arrow, there is no control.
Additionally, Bitterman said that as a driver she thinks the DOT put the yield signs up too high. &#8220You don't notice it because you're looking straight ahead.”
According to Bitterman, in addition to all the cars and pedestrians there is a van service that goes into city. It lays over and picks up pedestrians between the two driveways in the municipal lot increasing the congestion.
Local businessman Kevin Liu's private school, The Mega Academy is close by. Students range from middle school to high school age (12 to 18). Bitterman said Liu has been complaining about the danger for years but the situation hasn't improved.
Meng said that this busy intersection has been the subject of many complaints recently. Bitterman added that if damage costs from fender benders at that location were under $1,000, few drivers actually reported accidents to their insurance companies, preventing documentation of the problem, but there was a great deal of anecdotal evidence of accidents at the congested intersection.
&#8220I drive this way everyday and I'm very careful at this intersection. It is dangerous. The left turn arrow is needed,” Bitterman said.
&#8220There's a school, The Mega Academy, the large Nan Sheng Senior Center, the Main Street Library, and a municipal parking lot in the immediate vicinity,” Liu said.
&#8220I'm concerned for everyone, drivers and pedestrians,” Bitterman said.