June 9, 2017 By Christian Murray
The Department of Transportation has rejected calls for the installation of an all way stop sign at the intersection of 51st Ave. and 5th Street, according to State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.
In a June 1 letter addressed to Assemblywoman Nolan, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg wrote that the city had studied the intersection and concluded that the roadway was not busy enough to warrant an all way stop sign based on nationally recognized safety standards.
Cathy Nolan
Residents have been calling for an all way stop sign at this intersection for years since it is only a block away from Hunters Point Community Middle School. A petition was put together earlier this year and 500 residents signed on asking for the stop sign.
Nolan, who wrote a letter to Trottenberg calling for the stop sign in April, included the petition as part of her request.
The petition read in part: “NYC Vision Zero promises to protect our children with every tool possible, and this change will help protect our children from traffic as they walk from the subway to school.”
Trottenberg, in her reply to Nolan, did say that Slow Zones would be added to certain streets around the school. She said speed bumps, markings and other traffic calming treatments will be added to those streets and that the speed limit would be reduced from 25mph to 20 mph.
The Slow Zones will go into effect before the next school year in September, Trottenberg wrote, and would be at the following locations:
51st Avenue, between 2nd Street and Center Boulevard
Center Boulevard, between Borden Ave. and 50th Ave.
49th Avenue, between Center Boulevard and 5th Street
Nolan, in a statement, said that she was encouraged by the installation of the Slow Zones but found it “very troubling” that the all way stop sign will not be added.
She has asked the DOT to study it again.
“I would ask that the NYC Department of Transportation take another look at this intersection and listen to the many students and parents who have pushed and advocated for an all way stop to be placed at this intersection.
Response Letter From NYC DOT, 51 Avenue and 5 Street, 6-5-17 by Queens Post on Scribd
