The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) on Monday announced the launch of a comprehensive safety study focused on Conduit Avenue, a high-traffic, multi-lane roadway that stretches across Brooklyn and Queens and has long been plagued by crashes and congestion.
Known locally as “The Conduit,” the roughly three-mile corridor connects Atlantic Avenue and Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn to the Belt Parkway and JFK Airport in Queens. DOT officials say the corridor, which includes three lanes of traffic in each direction, will be evaluated for infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and accessibility for all users—including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
A key component of the study will be community engagement, with the agency seeking public input to help guide design changes. Officials emphasized that the study is part of a broader push to modernize outdated infrastructure and reduce traffic violence in historically dangerous areas.
Much of the Conduit’s current layout stems from a shelved expressway proposal during the Robert Moses era, which left behind a wide green median intended for highway development. Today, that median divides a heavily trafficked roadway that has become a hotspot for speeding, reckless driving and fatal crashes.
According to DOT data, between Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, the corridor has seen at least 40 severe injuries and five traffic fatalities over the past five years. Officials say the study will help identify both short- and long-term solutions to curb dangerous driving behavior and make the stretch safer for all.
‘The Conduit is not a highway,’ DOT commissioner says as safety overhaul begins
As the city begins its comprehensive review of Conduit Avenue, Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez emphasized that the corridor must be reimagined as a local roadway—not treated like a highway.
“Increased traffic and limited pedestrian infrastructure have made the Conduit one of the most dangerous roadways in the city,” said Rodriguez. “Brooklyn and Queens residents deserve a Conduit Boulevard that improves daily life—not a roadway that puts pedestrians and drivers at risk and physically divides entire neighborhoods.”
DOT officials noted that while the wide green median at the center of the Conduit was originally intended as part of an expressway plan that never materialized, it now features unpaved paths and minimal pedestrian infrastructure, creating both safety hazards and missed opportunities. Speed cameras installed along the corridor consistently record some of the highest numbers of violations citywide, according to DOT data.
“We want to remind everyone that Conduit is not a highway—it is a local street,” Rodriguez added.
The newly launched study builds on previous DOT efforts to improve safety along the corridor, including a reduced speed limit, installation of speed cameras, and the addition of a sidewalk and signalized crosswalks at North and South Conduit Avenue near 79th Street.
Community-driven process begins in June
DOT will host a series of public workshops next month to gather input from local residents, business owners, and commuters who use the Conduit daily. The agency is encouraging broad participation as it works to develop a redesign that reflects the needs of those most affected by current conditions.
“Now is the time to let your voice be heard,” Rodriguez said. “At community workshops this month, we want to hear what New Yorkers think the Conduit should look like, and how it should serve our communities. It is time to let New Yorkers decide how the Conduit corridor can best serve the needs of the locals who use it most—while keeping them safe.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards welcomed the launch of the study, calling it “a long time coming.” He described Conduit Avenue as a “disaster” that routinely fails the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who use it every day.
“Every day, people rely on this road to get home, to work, to school, and beyond,” Richards said. “But the current state of the Conduit falls significantly short of meeting the needs of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. It’s confusing, poorly designed, and sorely lacking in pedestrian and bike infrastructure.”
To kick off the planning process, DOT has scheduled two public workshops in June:
In-Person Workshop – Register to attend
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Robert H. Goddard JHS 202, 138-30 Lafayette St., Ozone Park
Virtual Workshop via Zoom – Register to attend
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Both events are open to the public, and pre-registration is encouraged. More information is expected to be released on the DOT’s website and social media channels in the coming weeks.
