A Flushing intersection will soon become safer for pedestrians.
A crosswalk will be installed at the intersection of Blossom Avenue and Main Street, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic announced on Aug. 21. The new crosswalk is expected to be painted before the end of the year and Rozic will continue monitoring the intersection to see if additional safety measures are necessary.
The news comes after the city Department of Transportation (DOT) conducted a traffic study of the area at the lawmaker’s request. In October 2015, Rozic wrote to DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia to request some form of traffic calming measures at the site. The intersection, located nearby multiple public schools, residential buildings and community hubs, including a senior center, currently has none, leaving pedestrians at risk, Rozic said.
In her letter, the legislator also cited a pedestrian fatality that occurred that some month at the location, in which a young couple was stuck while attempting to cross the street.
Amy and Hsi-Pei Liao, founding members of the advocacy group Families for Safe Streets, welcomed news of the coming crosswalk.
“It’s sad that it took a life in 2015 and five known injuries from 2015 till now to install a crosswalk here,” they said. “The family of the victims and lives of those injured are forever changed. Anybody who has been to this area knows it’s packed with families with strollers, older adults and everybody in between walking to the many grocery stores and medical facilities nearby.”
Rozic worked with Senator Charles Schumer to secure the traffic study.
“I am proud of the efforts that went into securing the traffic study and thank Senator Schumer and our community partners for their work in prioritizing the safety of everyone traveling through the area,” said Rozic.
“For too long, the intersection of Blossom Avenue and Main Street has been a problem plagued road for nearby residents and businesses. I’m pleased that, with the help of Assemblywoman Rozic and local community leaders, the NYC Department of Transportation has heeded our call by moving forward with a plan to make this intersection safer. A new crosswalk will help ensure the safety of pedestrians frequenting the bustling area by providing a visual cue to drivers,” Schumer added.
