Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder is all smiles as he greets parents and students whom he hopes will now be safer when they cross the street after the installation of a mobile speed board by the DOT. Goldfeder is now pushing for more permanent traffic control at the school such as speed bumps and additional signage. Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup
Parents and students arriving at P.S. 232 in Lindenwood last Friday morning were surprised to find a mobile speed board posted across the street from the school. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) installed the traffic device in response to consistent efforts by Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (D-Lindenwood) to try and ease the dangerous driving conditions at the school.
“The Department of Transportation has finally responded to our concerns,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “Installing a speed board will deter drivers from using this stretch of road as a personal speedway. This temporary device will better protect our children and keep our streets safe and I will continue to work with the DOT, Principal Josephson, and the parents of P.S. 232 until a permanent solution is made.”
PTA member Lisa Neumann, whose 9-year-old son Jonathan attends the school, commended the assemblyman for his efforts. “We are grateful to the assemblyman for his efforts on this project,” Neumann said. “We feel that this is a step in the right direction and a definite improvement and we know that we can count on him [Assemblyman Goldfeder] to keep on the DOT for more permanent safety measures moving forward.”
“Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has worked tirelessly with me and our school community for the past four years to improve the high traffic area in and around our school,” said P.S. 232 Principal Lisa Josephson. “We are thrilled… Hopefully, we will soon see a change. Our children, their parents, and our teachers have the right to be protected when crossing the street.”
Goldfeder sent several requests to DOT requesting an investigation of all roads near the school, but specifically asked that it explore the possibility of installing speed bumps to curb speeding vehicles. The speed sign was installed as a temporary measure while the DOT completes their investigation for speed bumps.
Hopes are that the speed board will deter drivers from speeding by setting the speed limit to 25 MPH. Additionally, DOT’s School Safety Unit has committed to coordinate with parents and students at the school to identify other potential solutions.
“This is the first step in the right direction, but we must remain vigilant to protect our children and community,” said Goldfeder.
By Samantha Geary
