By Mark Hallum
The city Department of Transportation has launched a study of the intersection at Corporal Kennedy Street and 26th Avenue to determine what its options are to make the area safer for pedestrians and motorists. According to state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), the intersection has been the scene of deadly accidents and is in need of turn signals to mitigate danger. DOT issued a letter to Avella Aug. 10 to announce the study would be underway.
“The Bay Terrace community has been asking for these controls for almost two decades. Unfortunately, time and time again, DOT has denied these requests,” Avella said. “While DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg indicated in an August 10th letter that DOT’s Pedestrian Projects Group is reviewing the existing traffic conditions, she did not specifically say what safety enhancements were being studied for this intersection. I subsequently wrote her stating that anything less than left-turn signals is simply unacceptable.”
According to Avella, two people have been killed over the years at the busy intersection, which is situated near Clearview Senior Center and Scheuer House of Bayside, which focuses on giving assistance to Holocaust survivors.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
