Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Astoria

Residents Tell DOT Their Ideas for Safer Streets By Astoria Park

By David Meyer | Oct 30, 2015 | 1 Comment

Nearly 60 neighborhood residents came out for a public meeting on Wednesday night to brainstorm ways to calm traffic around Astoria Park in Queens. Council Member Costa Constantinides organized the meeting in response to the June 27 hit-and-run death of 21-year-old Betty DiBiaso at the intersection of Ditmars Boulevard and 19th Street, at the park’s northeast corner. State […]

Simotas Calls on DOT to Make Astoria Park’s Shore Boulevard Car-Free

By Stephen Miller | Aug 6, 2015 | 8 Comments

Assembly Member Aravella Simotas wants Astoria Park to be New York’s next car-free park. In a letter sent to DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg this week [PDF], Simotas urged the agency to make Shore Boulevard between Astoria Park South and Ditmars Boulevard a car-free space. Shore Boulevard runs along the East River within Astoria Park, and it’s one of […]

After Hit-and-Run Death, Neighbors Press DOT to Tame Traffic in Astoria Park

By Stephen Miller | Jul 20, 2015 | 10 Comments

Park advocates, a local civic association, and Council Member Costa Constantinides are calling on DOT to implement traffic calming around Astoria Park after a hit-and-run driver killed a woman just outside the park last month. The effort could grow much larger than changes to the intersection where the crash occurred: Pressure is mounting for DOT to reimagine the way motorists drive around […]

Queens Residents Launch Campaign for Bike Lanes Connecting Parks

By Stephen Miller | Jul 10, 2015 | 9 Comments

Northern Queens residents who want to safely bicycle to nearby parks are trying to convince the city to install new bike lanes in neighborhoods from Astoria to Corona. It all started with a post by Sergio Peçanha to a Jackson Heights neighborhood forum about two weeks ago. With Travers Park and the adjacent 78th Street play street set for reconstruction soon, Peçanha wanted […]

Eyes on the Street: Vernon Boulevard Gets Bike Lane Barriers

By Stephen Miller | Jun 16, 2015 | 12 Comments

Biking in western Queens is getting a welcome upgrade. The two-way bike lane on Vernon Boulevard has not had any type of protection from traffic since it was installed in 2013. The lane was frequently obstructed by drivers who used it as a parking spot. Now, DOT is installing barriers along the bikeway to keep cars out. The project received the most […]

DOT’s Safety Plan for 21st Street in Astoria Leaves Everyone Wanting More

By Stephen Miller | Feb 26, 2015 | 5 Comments

A street safety plan for 21st Street in western Queens has left elected officials asking for more from DOT. The plan covers approximately two miles of 21st Street between the Queensboro Bridge and Triboro Bridge. In terms of safety, the street ranks in the bottom third of Queens’ roads. There were five fatalities on 21st […]

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