City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer announced the completion of a variety of traffic safety improvements along 5th Street in Long Island City. On September 12, City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer was joined by Joe Conley, chair of Community Board 2, representatives from the Department of Transportation, local schoolchildren, families and community leaders to announce the completion of a variety of traffic safety improvements along 5th Street.
“The traffic safety improvements on 5th Street mark a significant victory for the Long Island City community,” said Van Bramer. “Vision Zero is a commitment for us all that traffic safety is and will be a priority for this administration, and I would like to thank Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Queens Department of Transportation Commissioner Dalila Hall for listening to the community’s concerns and making the appropriate changes.”
“Long Island City’s streets and skyline continue to evolve to reflect the dynamic growth of this neighborhood,” said Hall. “New York City’s Department of Transportation is always interested in working with the local community to identify opportunities, such as adding new speed bumps on 5th Street, which help make streets safer for everyone, especially our youngest New Yorkers walking to school.”
Van Bramer advocated for the traffic safety improvements along 5th Street after local residents and school officials came forward and requested assistance. The DOT converted 5th Street between 46th Road and 50th Avenue into a one-way southbound street before the start of the 2014 school year. Three speed bumps were also installed in August along the heavily trafficked pedestrian corridor — one between 50th Avenue and Borden Avenue, and two between 48th Avenue and 50th Avenue.
As the 2014 school year begins, the completion of these traffic safety improvements will make the residential street safer for hundreds of students, local residents, families and seniors.
Following Mayor Bill de Blasio’s introduction of the Vision Zero initiative, Van Bramer’s office has worked closely with the DOT, police precincts, schools and local community leaders to identify the most dangerous corridors and intersections in Western Queens. Since taking office, the councilmember has helped expedite the installation of stop signs, speed bumps, pedestrian countdown clocks, traffic signals and Neighborhood Slow Zones in Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City.
“These traffic safety improvements on 5th Street are encouraging because as Long Island City continues to grow, our infrastructure will need to keep pace in order for our streets to remain safe,” said state Senator Michael Gianaris. “As more and more people move to our neighborhood to live and raise families, we will need to keep making these improvements happen quickly.
Though city transportation agencies are often slow to act, rest assured I will always work with Councilman Van Bramer to ensure our growing neighborhood gets the safety improvements we deserve.”
“Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible, especially Councilman Van Bramer who called on the Department of Transportation to install the ‘People’s Speed Hump’, implement the one-way conversion and make these important traffic improvements,” said Conley. “This is a great victory for the safety of our community and our children. This announcement really emphasizes how working together helps make our community a better place to live, work and walk to school safely.”
