Comments on: Jackson Heights: New Front in One-Way Battle

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:18:34 +0000

Is Sadik-Khan even aware of this proposal?

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:55:59 +0000

To clarify for those who aren't familiar with Sunnyside: 43rd and Skillman Avenues are one-way, and fairly analogous to Eighth and Sixth Avenues in Park Slope, except that they're partly commercial. 43rd Avenue has a very high rate of failed stores and restaurants, particularly in the few blocks east of 48th Street, and it seems pretty clear to me that it's at least partly due to it being one-way. That strip in particular feels very unpleasant to walk down, and I avoid it as much as possible, but the rest of the avenue would be much more pleasant if it weren't used by the DOT as an auxiliary route to the Queensborough Bridge.

The corner of 43rd and 51st is also where a friend of mine was waiting to cross when a motorcycle and car collided. My friend was knocked into the side of a parked van by the motorcycle and disabled for several months; the motorcyclist was killed.

If this plan for Jackson Heights is implemented, I expect that 35th and 37th Avenues will go from being neighborhood streets to being on and off ramps for the BQE, and their quality of life will deteriorate to the level of 43rd Avenue.

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:21:08 +0000

Hey, I wrote that there, not here! Who reposted my comments?

By: Angus

Angus — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:01:29 +0000

Those of us in Sunnyside who are familiar with the difficulties of keeping
businesses afloat and maintaining social networks on 43rd Avenue (and even
on Skillman, although there are mitigating factors on Skillman) will know
that that's a bad idea. The increased danger is another important reason
to oppose the plan. If you know people in Jackson Heights, please tell
them to support the community leaders who are fighting this proposal.

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:32:20 +0000

Yes, when will Sadik-Khan rein in Primeggia?

By: Charlie D.

Charlie D. — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:42:35 +0000

If the problem is double parking, then there needs to be (1) more enforcement, and (2) adjustment of pricing of curb-side spaces.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:34:33 +0000

Primeggia strikes again?

By: Will

Will — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:29:53 +0000

The one-way pair for 35th & 37th Aves has been turned down twice in the last six years. The Community Board voted against it in 2001 & 2003. According to Steve Kulhanek, the chairman of the Transportation subcommittee of CB3Q, the vote count from 2003 was 50 against and 1 for. There is no support for this proposal in the community. Businesses, schools, churches, and residents are all against this. It is amazing that they are proposing it again. It seems like a complete waste of time and a distraction from the real problem at hand -- too many destination shopping-motorists in a densely populated area. We need to find ways to calm the traffic and to encourage shoppers to use different modes of transportation.

By: Clarence

Clarence — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:12:06 +0000

Folks in Jackson Heights may want to view our Park Slope video from earlier this year. The fourth most popular on StreetFilms...

http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/park-slope-one-way-vs-two-way-streets/