That loud thud we all heard on Friday, July 31 was the sound of $100 million landing on 14 Queens-based capital construction and infrastructure projects.
The funding comes through an agreement between the city and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey made during the leasing deal in 2004 that will bring nearly 400 new jobs to the borough and repair and make improvements and upgrades all within five miles of JFK and LaGuardia Airports.
Infrastructure and traffic mitigation projects included:
? Atlantic Avenue Extension that will create new gateways to Downtown Jamaica and the AirTrain/Long Island Rail Road Station complex easing area traffic.
? Station Plaza Redevelopment will ease traffic and keep pedestrians safer in and around Archer Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard.
? Willets Point Off-Site Infrastructure will include new sanitary sewer and storm-water improvements at the 62-acre site.
? Flushing Street Conversions allowing for eased traffic flow and widening of streets. The plan calls for converting portions of Main Street and Union Street from two-way to one-way streets.
? Columbus Plaza at LaGuardia Airport will get a new bus terminal.
? Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology will get a new library and community center.
Streetscape improvements and area-wide beautification projects include:
? 28th Avenue and Linden Place will get road fixes for the College Point Corporate Park and Linden Place area.
? Beach 20th Street Plaza will develop a new pedestrian plaza in Far Rockaway.
? Rockaway Boulevard will get upgrading of sidewalks, tree plantings medians between Van Wyck and 150th Street.
? 147th Avenue and Springfield Park will get a new formal entrance to the park.
? South Conduit and Linden Boulevard will get new sidewalks and new trees.
? Roosevelt Avenue and National Street Triangle will be transformed into a new pedestrian plaza for the Corona neighborhood.
Transportation-related improvements include:
? Woodhaven Boulevard Safety Improvements will be studied and sidewalks, bus shelters and pedestrian safety measures.
? JFK International Airport Access Study will aim at improving passenger and cargo access to the airport.
? Bulova Corporation and Retail Center Improved Site Access Study will evaluate traffic and safety improvements at Astoria Boulevard, Brooklyn Queens Expressway and Boody Street intersection.
As we have long advocated, spend the money in Queens. This $100M windfall could not come at better time.
