Local leaders are taking steps to make it safer for you to step off the curb.
Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblymember Michael Miller, Community Board 9 District Manager Mary Ann Carey and Forest Park Senior Center president Donna Caltabiano are joining the AARP in a campaign to survey crosswalks and intersections and take action to make streets and sidewalks safer.
The very first was the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and 89th Avenue in Woodhaven. This location was highlighted because of the fact that within a two-block radius there is the Forest Park Senior Center, P.S. 60, with over 1,200 pre-K through fifth grade students, and P.S. 306, with over 220 pre-K through second grade students. Both seniors and students have to cross 10 lanes of traffic to reach either schools or their senior center.
This effort is part of a broader statewide campaign, “Complete Streets Week: Making New York Walkable for All Generations,” which will survey hundreds of dangerous roads and intersections across the state. Several factors will be taken into account including if there are adequate traffic and crossing signals, if crosswalks are properly marked, and if there is enough time to cross the streets. The results will be used to make improvements and develop legislation to ensure that streets are safe and accessible for individuals of all ages.
“For the last 20 years, accidents around Woodhaven and Jamaica as well as the surrounding intersections have been a serious issue,” said Carey. “Too often those accidents include fatalities and involve senior citizens. We need to take a serious look at these intersections and how we can improve them for the safety of everyone.”
The neglect of pedestrian safety falls harder on older adults, say AARP officials. According to the 2009 report, Dangerous by Design by Transportation for Americans, New York ranks third in the nation for pedestrian fatalities for people age 65 and over.
Complete Streets legislation has been introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate. It will ensure that all new roads constructed have to provide the same consistent level of safe travel for all motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and public transportation users regardless of age or ability.
For more information, contact Addabbo’s Howard Beach district office at 718-738-1111.
