Photo Courtesy of Google
Among the new Priority Corridors added to the new Borough Safety Plans: Rockaway Boulevard (Eldert Lane in Woodhaven to 3rd Street in Rosedale).
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City’s latest Vision Zero plan focuses on the most dangerous thoroughfares in the five boroughs—including Rockaway Boulevard in South Queens, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday.
Using crash data, new Priority Corridors were added to the new Borough Safety Plans. The new PCs in The World’s Borough are: Rockaway Boulevard (Eldert Lane in Woodhaven to 3rd Street in Rosedale); 37th Avenue (114th Street to Woodside Avenue); and 21st Street (50th Avenue to 20th Avenue).
According to the administration, the Borough Pedestrian Safety Plans use the latest crash data, showing that just 7 percent of the city’s streets – 424 miles – are responsible for nearly half of all pedestrian fatalities. By the end of 2019, the City will change traffic signals on all the newly added corridors to discourage speeding, and give pedestrians exclusive crossing time at 300 intersections to prevent crashes. The new priority streets and intersections are the roadmap for future Vision Zero safety projects and enforcement – ensuring tools like speed cameras, police enforcement and re-engineering are applied where they’ll save the most lives, according to de Blasio.
“We will never stop working towards our goal of Vision Zero and saving lives across the city,” Hizzoner said. “Using our data-driven approach, we have identified hotspots around the city that are driving the majority of traffic fatalities, and are implementing targeted plans there and across the city that will make our streets safer for all. After our success last year with the safest year on record, we will continue building towards a safer and fairer city for all.”
The City Department of Transportation is identifying new Priority Locations around the city, the administration noted. Some locations are receiving more in-depth interventions than they had previously, while new locations will receive critical safety upgrades. Places where crashes declined by the greatest margins will continue to be closely monitored.
New DOT actions for 2019 include:
• Add exclusive pedestrian crossing time at every feasible intersection on all new Priority Corridors by the end of 2019
• Modify signal timing to reduce speeding on all feasible new Priority Corridors by the end of 2019
• Launch Integrated Data-Driven Speed Reducer Program (speed humps & speed cushions)
• Track Vision Zero Violations at the Priority Corridors, Intersections, and Areas
• Launch a High Visibility Enforcement Program on Priority Corridors
• Launch a targeted Corridor Outreach Program
• Launch a Driveway Safety program to address issues with vehicles crossing sidewalks
• Conduct a comprehensive study of senior pedestrian injuries
• Collaborate with the Business Integrity Commission to improve the safety of commercial waste fleets
“Preventing traffic fatalities and promoting the peaceful co-existence of pedestrians and motorists should be applauded,” said State Sen. James Sanders, Jr. (D-South Ozone Park). “Vision Zero has made positive improvements in keeping New Yorkers safe and I look forward to its continued success in the future. Traffic fatalities may not be at zero yet, but the numbers are getting lower and that’s a good sign that we moving towards that ambitious but worthy goal.”
