Photo: Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic President Joann Ariola (from l.) discusses roadway issues in her community with Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, DOT Queens Borough Planner Craig Chin, and DOT Queens Commissioner Nicole Garcia. Courtesy of Assemblyman Goldfeder’s Office
Ask, and ye shall receive.
Roughly four weeks after sending an invitation to newly appointed city Department of Transportation Queens Commissioner Nicole Garcia, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) last Friday accompanied Garcia and DOT Borough Planner Craig Chin on a walkthrough of locations throughout southern Queens and Rockaway to highlight some of the areas of concern to local families and urge repairs to infrastructure still damaged from Superstorm Sandy.
The tour included a stop along Cohancy Street in Ozone Park to review parking availability and discuss DOT’s plan to convert the one-way residential street into a two-way road with bike lanes. Area residents and the Ozone Park Civic Association have expressed concern over the loss of parking spaces under the proposal, citing the already heavy car volume from commuters parking on the street to access the nearby Aqueduct-N Conduit A Train station. Residents have also requested beautification efforts to improve cracked sidewalks and roadway in the vicinity of the station.
In Hamilton Beach, Goldfeder and Garcia visited 104th Street, which is scheduled to be repaved with federal funding from Superstorm Sandy recovery aid. Residents have long complained of large potholes and cracks along the main street in the neighborhood, a situation made worse by the 2012 storm.
DOT reportedly plans to begin resurfacing work on the street this fall. New Hamilton Beach Civic Association President Roger Gendron showed Garcia the roadway conditions, emphasizing the importance of 104th street as the main artery out of the neighborhood for residents and first responders from the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department.
In Lindenwood, Goldfeder escorted Garcia to the traffic triangle at 153rd Avenue and 88th Street. As Goldfeder explained to Garcia, the configuration of the triangle has long caused confusion among motorists and is a frequent issue for residents that he has addressed with her predecessors. In winter, the unusual positions of the crosswalks at the triangle prevent city Sanitation Department plows from properly clearing paths for pedestrians, Goldfeder noted. The Assemblyman also took the opportunity to praise Garcia for agreeing to repair potholes and direct DOT to study possible resurfacing work along 153rd Avenue.
Joann Ariola, president of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic, praised Goldfeder for bringing Garcia down to the street level “to witness the traffic nightmares” in person.
“Seeing the problem firsthand is something the civic considers vital when it comes to understanding the unique traffic trouble spots throughout the Howard Beach-Lindenwood community,” said Joann Ariola, president of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic. “The fact that our assemblymember agrees in that philosophy and brought DOT Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia into the community to witness the traffic nightmares our residents have endured makes us much more confident that we will have a resolve.”
Goldfeder also thanked Garcia for answering the letter and visiting the 23rd Assembly District.
“We have made tremendous progress after Sandy in repairing damaged infrastructure, however there is still work left to do,” Goldfeder noted. “That’s why it’s so important that our city agencies be made aware of any issues with our roadways so that the necessary repairs and changes can be made.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
