Reclaiming the Streets
T.A. Unveils Traffic Calming Recommendations for Maspeth and Jackson Heights

Thanks to a grant from the New York Community Trust, T.A. has been able to retain internationally known traffic calming expert Michael King to work with community groups in Queens to reduce traffic and traffic-related noise on their streets.

Maspeth: Community Disrupted by the Long Island Expressway

In Maspeth, T.A. and King teamed with the Juniper Park Civic Association to address roadway noise, traffic safety and community livability at the intersections of Grand Avenue, 69th Street and the Long Island Expressway. Grand Avenue is the commercial spine of Maspeth and features playgrounds, bus stops, plazas and fire houses. The Long Island Expressway cuts through and disrupts this community nexus with its service roads, trucks and noise.

To mitigate the negative effect of the Long Island Expressway, T.A., King and community leaders developed an extensive set of recommendations, including sidewalk widenings, corner extensions and new signal timing and markings that will work together to traffic calm the area. The community board and city councilmember have responded enthusiastically to the recommendations. Now it is up to the Department of Transportation to implement them.

Jackson Heights: Intrusive Trucks, Parking and Noise

In Jackson Heights, T.A. worked with a new group, Coalition for a Quiet Jackson Heights, to document problems that contribute to heavy traffic and horn honking. The study found that heavy truck and livery cab traffic is aggravated by double parking caused by low parking fees and a lack of enforcement of all types of illegal parking. Among other things, the T.A. report recommends raising parking fees, installing Muni-Meters and widening sidewalks and corner crossings.
Read the reports at www.transalt.org/info/maspethfinal030904.pdf and www.transalt.org/info/jacksonheightsdraft030831.pdf. 

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