By Bill Parry
A temporary fix was not good enough at a notorious Astoria intersection and state Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) is calling on the city’s Department of Transportation to take immediate action to improve the crossroad at 32nd Street, the Grand Central Parkway’s Exit 45 ramp and Astoria Boulevard North.
When Simotas began her campaign to have the intersection redesigned in 2013, former Community Board 1 District Leader Lucille Hartmann called it “one of the worst intersections in the United States, maybe even the world” and the DOT responded by implementing a temporary fix in the spring of 2015.
In a letter to DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, Simotas wrote that despite “over three years of repeated requests, this intersection remains a daily hazard to motorists” and “improvements have been repeatedly delayed despite acknowledgment of the issue.” She also said the temporary fix only pushed the dangerous confluence of cars farther west.
“This intersection is a daily danger to motorists and pedestrians and any further delay in making it safer is unacceptable and inexcusable,” Simotas said. “New street designs and configurations are one of the cornerstones of the City’s Vision Zero initiative and Astoria residents have the right to expect the city to keep its promise to improve street safety in every neighborhood and every borough.”
The DOT implemented a safety project at Astoria Boulevard between 31st and 32nd Streets in 2015. The improvements included upgraded lane markings and channelization to separate Astoria Boulevard North and the Grand Central Parkway exit at 32nd Street.
“These improvements aimed to address crashes and reduce sideswiping,” a DOT spokeswoman said. “Additional concerns were identified after the safety project was implemented and which we have discussed with local stakeholders. DOT is currently working on updating a safety enhancement plan to address additional concerns, through potential signal timing adjustments and markings.”
Simotas had been promised by the DOT that a study of possible solutions would be finished by summer 2016. That summer came and went and the delayed study was then promised by October 2016 and as of Jan. 3, the Queens DOT office had no new date for completion of the study, according to Simotas.
“DOT is aware of AM Simotas’ concerns, and are currently working on a safety enhancement plan for this complex location,” a DOT spokeswoman said. “We will present our proposal to the local community early this year.”
Meanwhile, Simotas, City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) and state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) are planning a community gathering Sunday that will celebrate Astoria’s diverse population and the harmony and fellowship that exists among residents that literally comes from all over the world.
“Astoria has been welcoming and becoming home to different immigrant groups for decades. Astoria is a place where differences do not divide us; rather they bring life to our community,” Simotas said. “We all live together, work together and educate our children together, and we are better for it. I hope our community serves as a peaceful example for the rest of the nation, for places in our country where change and cultural, religious and ethnic differences instigate fear and hate. Come to Astoria and see how we do it.”
The three elected officials started planning the event in response to the post-election wishes of their constituents. The free community celebration will be held at the Variety Boys and Girls Club at 21-12 30th Road from noon to 1:30 p.m.
“This celebration will honor our community’s diverse cultural history with performance and activity,” Constantinides said. “At a time when we have seen a marked increase in hate crimes citywide, seeing our neighborhood come together to celebrate one another is in the spirit of what makes us great.”
The celebration will include performances from the Variety Boys and Girls Club Dance Troupe — “The Vipers,” the Astoria Young Women’s Leadership Academy “Digital Dance Project,” and remarks from faith leaders.
“Queens is the most diverse county on Earth, with people from more than 100 countries co-existing peacefully for generations,” Gianaris said. “I am proud to represent a community that is willing to unite and organize, to make sure our neighborhood remains a welcoming, safe place that everyone is happy to call home.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
