'Boulevard of Death' to Get Protected Bike Lanes

By
Kate Hinds
Transportation Nation | Mar 31, 2015

At a community board meeting in Queens Tuesday night, the city's Department of Transportation will unveil an ambitious, $100 million plan to transform Queens Boulevard — a road officials describe as one of the city's most "chronically dangerous" corridors.

The first phase will take place this summer along a 1.3 mile stretch, which will get "incredible safety improvements," according to city transportation commissioner Polly Trottenberg. "Including, for the first time ever, protected bike lanes — something that has long been of big interest in that community."

The roadway will also get more pedestrian space.

Eventually, the project will encompass the full seven miles of Queens Boulevard and will include a planted pedestrian mall — similar to Ocean and Eastern Parkways in Brooklyn.

According to city data, there were 38 traffic fatalities and 448 severe injuries on that roadway from 2003 to 2013.

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Kate Hinds

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