By Bill Parry
The streets on Long Island City are getting cleaner and safer.
After years of pressure from residents and elected officials, the city Department of Transportation installed stop signs along Center Boulevard several weeks ago, and the agency plans on adding pedestrian crosswalks at 48th and 49th avenues in August, according to spokeswoman Nicole Garcia.
“We are also working with our partners at the NYPD on enforcement-related concerns at this location,” she said.
Hundreds of area residents attended a rally in May calling for safety measures along the roadway that runs past two waterfront parks and several schools.
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said there were five serious accidents on the boulevard during the first few months of the year, citing data from the 108th Precinct.
“Center Boulevard was like a speedway with no traffic calming measures at all,” Van Bramer said. “I’ve been battling for the 4 1/2 years that I’ve been councilman for these measures. The new administration moved quickly and we appreciate it.”
He added that Deputy Inspector Brian Hennessy, the 108th’s commander, would step up traffic enforcement in the area.
Meanwhile, street cleaners from the Doe Fund expanded their operation in Long Island City last week. Van Bramer made the announcement at a Tuesday press event near the Pulaski Bridge, at a freshly power-washed underpass at 11th Street and 50th Avenue.
“Street-cleaning is important and we’re tackling it head-on,” he said. “Two years ago we launched our first program with the Doe Fund in Woodside and it was enormously successful. Woodside is much cleaner now.” The Doe Fund helps formerly homeless and incarcerated individuals with work, housing and other services.
Van Bramer allocated $135,000 in funding to renew the arrangement in Woodside, increase service throughout Hunters Point and bring the cleaners to Dutch Kills as well.
“This area under the Pulaski Bridge is much more traveled with people trying to get to the No. 7 station, but it’s incredibly dirty and hard to clean with all the pigeon poop and even harder to get various agencies to focus on it,” Van Bramer said. “Now … this area was power-washed last night, making it clean and safe for families making their way to the waterfront.”
Tamar Weinstock, a resident of one of the new condos near the Pulaski Bridge, said, “It was like night and day compared to what it had been before. I actually got choked up when I saw it cleaned.”
Dana Frankel, director of economic development and planning at the LIC Partnership, lives in the area and liked the new initiative.
“Clean and well-maintained streets attract new business and gives residents pride in their neighborhood,” she said. “Clean streets makes a big difference.”
The traffic-calming measures on Center Boulevard and the aggressive cleaning services are part of a larger vision.
“We’re building a model community here in Long Island City,” Van Bramer said. “We have world-class parks, the best schools, more cultural programs on the way. It’s a great neighborhood in LIC, that’s why everyone wants to move here.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
