Claims Of Hazards Near St. Margaret’s
City Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a renewed study to improve safety at several areas in her district during a Monday, Jan. 7 tour of the area with Queens DOT Commissioner Maura McCarthy.
Crowley showed McCarthy hazardous traffic conditions at 79th Place and Juniper Valley Road in Middle Village, near St. Margaret’s School.
“I appreciate that Commissioner McCarthy took the time and saw firsthand safety concerns for students at St. Margaret’s School,” said Crowley in a statement. “The DOT has to find a solution to reduce speed and make the school’s streets safer.”
Concerns about speeding on Juniper Valley Road near 79th Place- especially because of its proximity to St. Margaret’s School-have been made to Crowley’s office, according to the statement. The lawmaker has requested stop signs and speed bumps at the location, which to date the DOT has denied.
Crowley and McCarthy visited the area and met with parents and St. Margaret Principal Philip Franco to discuss a number of safety improvements including speed bumps, flashing lights, and a slow speed zone during school hours.
The DOT has agreed to restudy the area, and the Council member and parents stressed that the study must be done during dismissal times when traffic is heaviest.
Crowley and McCarthy also visited 69th Street and Grand Avenue, along the Queens Midtown Expressway. There have been more than 20 accidents at the intersection in 2012, according to NYPD statistics.
Last year, the DOT installed new signage and a left turn only lane following a request from Crowley, but accident data shows that more work must be done.
The DOT said it would conduct another study to determine other safety improvements in the area.
