Flushing Heights Civic Association

Pedestrian Safety

Jun 16, 2002

Dangerous crossing of streets is not limited to Queens and Northern Blvd. Over the last few months, FHCA?’s Jim DeBonet has been working to make it safer to cross Utopia Parkway. You may know that a child from the Holy Family school was hit by a car while walking across this street. As it connects major thoroughfares, Utopia Parkway gives us high traffic volume and excessive speeding, most vehicles exceeding the 30 M.P.H. limit.
Jim has been in touch with the 107th police precinct and Councilman Gennaro. The police have been very co-operative in catching and issuing summonses to speeders and red-light violators. But this is not a permanent solution. The traffic situation on this street needs to be analyzed and permanent fixes employed. School crossing signs painted in large letters directly on the roadway have been installed and is a first step. The councilman has contacted DOT which was supposed to follow up with a traffic study. We are waiting for the results. Additional steps by the DOT should be directed towards slowing down traffic and getting drivers to obey all traffic regulations. This can be done as long as DOT is willing to implement necessary measures. They are familiar with these options. It?’s just a matter of what is more important, pedestrians or cars.

We have other pedestrian hot spots. Jim DeBonet has been trying to resolve a dangerous situation at Horace Harding Blvd. and 170th Street where traffic exits the LIE and attempts to make right-hand turns. Also, we were recently informed of an accident-prone intersection at 65th Avenue and 166th Street.