Queens Boulevard danger
The honorable Mayor,
Nothing has been done regarding the dangerous situation at the service road of Queens Boulevard and 75th Avenue next to the Eckerd drugstore.
The pedestrians have to jaywalk when they go from corner to corner which are not aligned. White lines are not drawn properly nor are the signals set up properly. This causes people to cross in front of turning traffic. Should there be an accident, the driver can say that they were turning with the light, and the pedestrian can say they were crossing with the light. They are both right. The city becomes liable.
Please check this out. Thank you.
Joseph Platnick
Forest Hills
Dear Joseph:
Thank you for your message concerning Queens Boulevard and 75th Avenue. After seeing it, I called the Department of Transportation (DOT) to get some information about this intersection. Street markings, including crosswalks, are scheduled to be re-painted this year, contributing to the added safety measures implemented along the boulevard over the last few years.
Over the last few years, DOT has conducted a number of initiatives along Queens Boulevard, including installation of more than 400 pedestrian signs, including signs at eight intersections that read: “A Pedestrian Was Killed Crossing Here/Be Alert/Cross with Care;” pedestrian fencing which prevents jaywalking was installed from Hillside to Roosevelt Avenue, and an increase in crossing time for pedestrians during peak periods was implemented from 63rd Drive to 83rd Avenue. We have also doubled red light cameras along the Boulevard, added speed limit signs with the Police Department and increased educational outreach to schools and to senior centers.
These measures have led to a significant decrease in pedestrian fatalities on the corridor; over the past two years, the boulevard has seen two fatalities, down from 18 in 1997. I thank you for your vigilance and concern for fellow New Yorkers; two deaths are two too many, and working together we can hopefully eliminate all of these unfortunate incidents.
Sincerely,
Mayor Mike Bloomberg
