An elderly Ozone Park man was killed Saturday as he tried to cross Woodhaven Boulevard at 101st Avenue.Gilbert Colasante, 77, was to crossing from the east side of the roadway to the west side when he was struck at approximately 6:30 a.m. by a van travelling northbound in the far left lane of the busy road. Colasante was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he died, according to police.The driver of the van stayed at the scene of the accident and was questioned by police and given a sobriety test. He was not arrested and was released.The accident took place in the 102nd Precinct. The nearby 106th Precinct has seen a sharp upturn in the number of traffic-related fatalities since the start of October. There have been six deaths in five separate accidents, after only four traffic-related deaths in all of 2004.The fatal accident comes just months after the federal government allocated $5 million to study safety and congestion issues on Woodhaven/Cross Bay Boulevard between Queens Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. The city Department of Transportation has agreed to take the reins on the study, looking into reducing congestion and confusion through signal timing changes and computerization, roadway alignment changes, bus priority lanes and changes to curbside regulations.Woodhaven Boulevard is often compared to Queens Boulevard, dubbed the "Boulevard of Death," because of its wide roadway and relatively fast-moving traffic. The section where Colasante was killed has both express and local lanes, a hallmark of Queens Boulevard that leads to long crossing times for pedestrians.Despite the federal study, though, some safe transportation advocates believe the road will not become safer until the total number of cars along the boulevard is decreased, not just easing congestion. Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, told the Queens Chronicle in August that it would be safer to make Woodhaven Boulevard more bus and bicycle-friendly.