Council Member Peter Koo announced the addition of 5 new loading zones to downtown Flushing yesterday (Council Member Peter Koo Twitter)
Dec. 19, 2019 By Michael Dorgan
City Council Member Peter Koo announced the installation of five new loading zones in downtown Flushing yesterday.
The new installations will effectively double the current number of loading zones in an effort to tackle traffic congestion and loading/unloading challenges experienced by small businesses in the area.
The announcement follows multiple meetings over the past year between CM Koo’s office, the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Community Board 7.
“These five new loading zones should dramatically decrease the burden on our small business community while helping to decrease double parking, traffic congestion, and improve bus travel times in downtown Flushing,” Council Member Koo said.
“For too long, delivery trucks have double parked on major thoroughfares in downtown Flushing, and by doubling the number of loading zones in this transportation hub, we are looking to improve the travel experience for all in our community,” he said.
One of the busiest transportation hubs in New York City, the area has a commercial corridor with more than 20 bus lines and hundreds of thousands of daily visitors.
“These new loading zones in Downtown Flushing will better balance the curbside needs of this dynamic commercial district,” said NYC DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia.
“Loading and unloading will be much easier for neighborhood businesses, and the community will experience less congestion from double parking,” she said.
Recent traffic pattern changes and competition with bus, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic have also led to increased traffic congestion.
More than 200 supermarkets and restaurants populate downtown Flushing with some locations like the popular New World Mall food court receiving up to 100 truck deliveries each day.
“Downtown Flushing has over 2,000 businesses. Of those, we have around 230 restaurants, seven supermarkets, and numerous professional services,” Executive Director of the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub, Dian Yu said. “Additional loading and unloading zones are extremely crucial to the success of our local business.”
The five new loading zones are:
· Main Street, west side, between 37th and 38th avenues (all days).
· Part of Roosevelt Avenue, north side, between Main Street and Prince Street, (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., all days).
· 40th Road, north side, between Main Street and Prince Street (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sunday).
· Part of 41st Avenue, north side, between Main Street and College Point Boulevard (7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sunday)
· Part of 41st Avenue, south side, between Main Street and College Point Boulevard (8 a.m. to noon, except Sunday)
These five new locations will supplement the following existing loading zones:
· 39th Avenue, south side, between Main Street and 138th Street
· Roosevelt Avenue, north side, near the corner of Union Street
· Part of 40th Road, south side, near the corner at Main Street
· Part of 41st Road, north side, near the corner at Main Street
· Part of Barclay Avenue, north side, between Kissena Blvd and Union St.
