NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Officials in Western Queens introduced a new plan to improve traffic safety on Tuesday as the traffic death toll surged by 43% in Queens compared to last year.
Western Queens, encompassing neighborhoods like Long Island City, Astoria, Woodside and Jackson Heights, had 924 crashes involving cyclists or pedestrians, resulting in 13 deaths and 939 injuries.
"We are looking when we come back to our districts at an epidemic of traffic violence," Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani said, referring to the 226 traffic-related deaths in New York City, including 13 in Western Queens.
The proposed "Western Queens Street Safety Plan" includes the creation of a protected bike lane network, expanded pedestrian spaces, a ban on parking near intersections, and other measures, to be implemented by 2029.
"This is an issue that has taken the lives of three of our neighbors in just the last 11 months," Mamdani said.
The plan, crafted by Council Member Tiffany Cabán, Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Jessica González-Rojas, and State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, also advocates for increased space for micromobility users like scooter riders and policy changes to bolster safety.
Cabán highlighted the need for safer streets, noting a more than 40% increase in traffic violence in Western Queens.
The plan calls for protected bike lanes on 31st Avenue and other streets, removing parking spaces near intersections, and the implementation of Sammy's Law, which would enable New York City to set its own speed limits.
Cabán is also pushing for daylighting, a method to improve intersection visibility by removing adjacent parking spaces.
"Daylighting saves lives," Cabán said. "Hoboken has eliminated all pedestrian deaths by implementing nearly universal daylighting."
Mamdani also advocates for granting the city authority to lower speed limits independently.
The six-year timeline of the plan combines deadlines set by the Department of Transportation with benchmarks suggested by local lawmakers.
Next year's projects include opening the Queensboro Bridge's south outer roadway for pedestrians and transforming 31st Avenue into a bike boulevard.
Additionally, the plan has broader policy changes, such as more automated enforcement, reduced speed limits, and higher fees for heavier vehicles.
