A Battle For Safety On Queens Blvd.

By RICHARD SCHACK

It was the early morning hours of the last day of 1999 and Forest Hills resident Daniel Freeman was on his way home, only he had to cross Queens Boulevard and Ascan Avenue among hundreds of cars. About 200 feet from one curb and not quite reaching the other side, the 26-year-old was hit and killed by a car in the westbound lane, that just kept on going.

Changes being implemented will widen islands on the Boulevard to increase pedestrian safety. Tribune Photo by Liz Goff

In memory of Freeman and the many others who have lost their lives attempting to cross Queens Boulevard — considered possibly the most deadly street in the city — over two dozen people marched along the strip this week, demanding safety.

The residents held signs as they marched in the summer-like heat and then rested in the shade to tell passers-by what they feared. The signs were remembrances for all of the pedestrians hurt on the strip and the 63 who have died there since 1993, according to Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz’s office.

With daily traffic of over 100,000 vehicles, Queens Boulevard is the most heavily trafficked roadway in all five boroughs. Along with that notoriety comes the distinction of also being the most accident-prone roadway in the city.

Dozens of Forest Hills residents walked and pushed their carts down Queens Boulevard last weekend demanding increased safety on the roadway. Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen

According to Koslowitz, 112th precinct statistics regarding Queens Boulevard show there have been over 1,030 documented pedestrian and motorist injuries suffered on the Boulevard in the last seven years.

There are a number of reasons for the alarming statistics. Besides the enormous volume of traffic, Queens Boulevard is the widest intersection in the city from sidewalk to sidewalk. In addition, the surrounding areas of Forest Hills and Rego Park contain the largest senior population in New York State, and the timing of lights makes it difficults for seniors to travel the span in time, local residents say.

The Boulevard includes a total of 10 lanes, with an average of 33 seconds between traffic signals. Pedestrians are often left to wait for the next light at the safety islands spaced between the two sidewalks. Some try to beat out the cars, rather than waiting.

A senior marcher on May 7 chronicles her experience. Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen

Many of the crosswalks are not handicapped-accessible because of structural changes made in the mid-1980s and the "islands" or meridians are considered dangerous by some because of their width.

The Forest Hills Action League, organizers of this week’s march, add to their complaints the charge that a Department of Transportation (DOT) study says that 70 percent of motorists on the mainline are speeding, as are over half of those on the side roads. The DOT could not confirm the figure at presstime.

However, the City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Borough President’s Office have recently completed traffic studies of Queens Boulevard and a number of recommendations are being made which they hope will increase the safety of the strip.

Over three million dollars has been allocated to improve safety on Queens Boulevard, granted by the Borough President’s Office and Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz. Some of the measures have already been undertaken.

The money, which will widen medians, increase signals and add extra traffic lights among other initiatives, was earmarked by Koslowitz and Shulman back in 1994. "There is no excuse for how long the DOT has taken to complete their ‘study.’ We don’t need a study - we need action," charged Senator Dan Hevesi. "Who knows how many accidents and deaths could have been prevented on Queens Boulevard if something had been done sooner?"

According to a DOT spokesperson, the years it has taken for the safety measures to become reality is typical procedure, and part of the city process that must first be completed. While the money was awarded in 1994, it had to be added to the DOT’s budget and then a Request For Proposal (RFP) had to be filed, which would set the stage for the procedures. The study was initiated in January of 1997, and the final report on the study was done in September of 1999.

Forest Hills Action League Co-President Norbert Chwat commented, "All we want to do is be able to cross Queens Boulevard without having to worry about being killed." His wife and Co-President Estelle Chwat added, "Until something major is done this is a sad story, seemingly without answers."

There are two phases to the plan funded by Shulman and Koslowitz to improve safety on the boulevard. The first phase has already begun, and will reportedly be completed in June by the Department of Design and Construction.

Phase one involves improving the areas between 67th and 70th Avenues. The next phase will make changes from 70th Road to Union Turnpike.

Three signalized crosswalks will be placed in the mid-block with the first, located on 69th Avenue, already placed. Two more will be placed at 68th and 70th Avenues. There are hopes this will make things safer for those who decide to j-walk, which many often do because of the often long stretch in between signals.

The medians will be widened to five feet at left turn crossings. Two medians, located at 67th Road and 108th Street, will be extended for improved safety.

There has been discussion of lengthening signal times and placing barriers on the medians to discourage J-walking, but no plans are in place at this time.

Pedestrian ramp modifications will be undertaken at eight locations, including three on 67th Road and 102 Street and five on Yellowstone Boulevard.

A left-turn bay extension is being considered for Yellowstone Blvd. going eastbound, but it will depend on subway vent relocations, according to the Borough President’s office. High visibility crosswalk upgrades will also be placed on all legs of Yellowstone, as well as 67th Road, 68th Avenue, and 70th Avenue.

Along with the traffic safety improvements currently being undertaken, the Borough President’s Office has a Traffic Safety Task Force focusing on preventing pedestrian injuries and fatalities on major roadways, with a special emphasis on Queens Boulevard.

The Task Force also includes an educational program to advise both motorists and pedestrians on various safety issues, including senior and school outreach.

"We try to do whatever we can not only to improve safety, but to spread awareness," said Dan Andrews, spokesperson for Borough President Claire Shulman. "On Queens Boulevard or any other dangerous roadway in Queens," concluded Andrews, "one more pedestrian losing their life is one more too many."

Joseph Hennessey, chairperson of Forest Hills and Rego Park’s Community Board 6, lost a friend on Queens Boulevard a number of years ago, and he is relieved that additional safety measures are finally becoming a reality. "You have to live close to here to really know just how dangerous it is," he said, "It was imperative something was to be done. Something had to give."