By Forum Staff
The City departments of Transportation and Design and Construction on Thursday announced the completion of pedestrian safety and infrastructure improvements on Parsons Boulevard between Jamaica Avenue and Archer Avenue in Jamaica.
The improvements expand sidewalk space, reduce the distance to cross Parsons Boulevard, and feature a new pedestrian island. The project targets a corridor with a high number of crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. The $5.7 million project, which included $2.5 million from the State’s Downtown Revitalization Program, was managed by DDC for DOT and was completed on time and more than $1 million under the original budget, officials noted.
The project more than doubled the sidewalk area on the east side of Parsons Boulevard, adding 7,150 square feet of additional space for pedestrians. The distance for pedestrians to cross Parsons Boulevard was also reduced by more than 30 percent from 65 feet to 39 feet, limiting the amount of time pedestrians are in crosswalks. In addition, a pedestrian island was reconstructed on Jamaica Avenue and new traffic signals were installed.
The Parsons Boulevard corridor ranks in the top 10 percent of corridors borough-wide with crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. From 2012 through 2016, the area was the site of 70 crashes with reported injuries, nearly 30 of which involved injuries to pedestrians, with four resulting in serious injuries.
This public space is part of the City’s Jamaica NOW Action Plan, a multi-million dollar neighborhood revitalization, that began in 2015. NYC DOT hosted community-driven visioning sessions for the Downtown Jamaica area. The desire for improved public space—and more of it—was a key theme in this multiyear engagement, and Parsons Boulevard was a location that quickly stood out as top of mind.
Downtown Jamaica sees an average of 1,000 pedestrians per hour on the single block of Parsons Boulevard between Jamaica Avenue and Archer Avenue.
The project also upgraded 10 sidewalk pedestrian ramps, making them all ADA compliant, and added five new trees to the area. Approximately 18,000 square feet of roadway was reconstructed, with seven new catch basins added to improve stormwater drainage. An updated wayfinding sign helps direct pedestrians while five new sidewalk benches provide rest areas.
The sidewalk extension creates additional space to enhance pedestrian safety and features treatments to improve the experience for all street users. These enhancements address community requests received during the public engagement process for the Jamaica NOW! effort. Guided by the leadership, collaboration and insights from the Jamaica Now Leadership Council, the redesign reflected direct feedback about the environment and lack of adequate pedestrian space, connections, seating, and greenery at the location.
As part of the Street Improvement Project redesign, a new Commuter Van Hub has been created at 153rd Street. As with the former Parsons Boulevard location, the new designated commuter van stop is located directly next to a subway entrance and exit. The new 153rd Street location also increases the number of spaces available to commuter van operators and their passengers. The new curbside regulations on 153rd Street are designed to provide 6-10 spaces for authorized commuter vans.
Thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the State through the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative, $2.8 million in City funds, and $377 thousand from funding allocations from the City Council, these streetscape enhancements became permanent, with new lighting, landscaping and seating.
