LHaus
May 25 2011

LIC’s dangerous 44th Drive tightening up & getting a bike lane. Thanks DOT!

The corridor of 44th Drive in LIC targeted for DOT makeover – photo by DOT


Good news (?) for Long Island City. It seems the racetrack aka 44th Drive in Hunters Point is getting some attention from the DOT via CB2. In March 2011, the DOT proposed implementing some safety measures on 44th Drive since the speedway registered in the 92th percentile of dangerous roads, according to their calculations. The proposal included removing one lane of traffic in either direction, a new painted center median, and improved visibility for pedestrian crosswalks.

DOT table showing injury stats for the dangerous 44th Drive in LIC.

Streetsblog reported this in March (while liQcity was on hiatus) and begged the question of ‘Why no bike lane?’. Well someone listened (really?) and CB2 approved the addition of a dedicated bike lane for 44th Drive. In order to prevent trucks from blocking the now one lane of traffic, loading zones will be allocated curbside.

From the LIC/Astoria Journal:

The re-design was for a .61-mile high-crash corridor. A study was done before submitting the proposal, which determined that speeding would be reduced by one-third. The community specifically requested the traffic calming measure on 44th Drive. DOT recommended taking one travel lane out, which would slow traffic by turning it into a bike lane, creating simpler and safer turns.

This area has caused many accidents for pedestrians and for cyclists. Problems from long crossing distances, faded markings, multiple pedestrian/vehicle conflict points, and low vehicular volumes on wide streets, often persist. CB2 Chairperson Joseph Conley also plans to add more bike racks below the 7 train on 40th and 43rd streets to accomodate the high volume of cyclists.

DOT’s March proposal for 44th Drive, LIC. – photo by DOT (Large size)

DOT has not released a revised proposal for the reconfiguration of 44th Drive with the bike lane included, but it is expected soon. This project will intersect with the other major LIC thoroughfare in Hunters Point also undergoing a similar make-over: Jackson Ave. Ok yes, this seems like officially good news – we just hope this DOT transformation goes a bit more smoothly than the last one in Hunters Point.

Government

11 Comments

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GREAT NEWS! Can we now PLEASE do something about 11th street? Perhaps some speed bumps? There are car accidents on a weekly basis…

#1 Anonymous / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

what about jackson ave, can we get the whole ave repaved???????

#2 Anonymous / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

This sounds good in theory, but I bet it ends up being a mess. They should look at 11st at the same time. Not just do everything separately and hope it all works out. Jackson Ave is a disaster.

#3 Anonymous / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Where does the bike lane go after 44th drive? Does it connect to other bike lanes further Eastbound?

#4 Anonymous / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

I love the stats showing clearly that bicyclists have statistically far fewer injuries than any other group.

An unscientific person might conclude that bicycles are the problem.

[For the irony-challenge, I'm kidding!]

#5 Glinda / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Of course, it looks like bicyclists have “far fewer injuries” than pedestrians and motor vehicle occupants.

Except, without knowing the total number of users in each category, the raw total is without meaningful context.

Statistics, as we’ve seen throughout Mayor McChee$e’s reign, can be used to bolster any argument.

#6 rexlic / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

I’ve never noticed 44th drive being particularly dangerous. However 11th st and 5th street are accidents waiting to happen. 5th being the worst since there is now so much pedestrian traffic. you would think the condo developers would have some pull in getting those streets fixed. they bribe everyone else, so…

#7 Anonymous / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

The bike lane will technically link into the one that is on Vernon, which then goes on to the Pulaski bridge. That is what needs to be fixed up. That bike/walking path is a joke. THere are like 6 lanes for cars and 7 feet for peds and bikes. The bridge is empty most of the time and the cars just fly over the bridge and dive right into residential ‘hoods of Greenpoint or Hunter’s Point. What they need to do is put a bigger bike lane on the pulaski bridge, take one of the traffic lanes. I almost get hit every time I walk the bridge.

#8 Anonymous / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

just wanted to mess with recaptcha. no free labor here.

#9 mess / 11 months, 3 weeks ago

You all think this will be great but removing traffic lanes in a rapidly expanding area seems like a nonsense. The central meridan on Jackson is an expensive monstrosity that will increase congestion and traffic fumes by creating traffic jams and bottlenecks. Pour money into permanent improvements to public transport not by tinkering and ‘redesigning’ roads to encourage usage of PT. Everyone in business in LIC wants an end to the endless weekend stoppages on the 7, we want more G, M and E trains and a bus system that can connect the Gantries to the other traffic hubs.

#10 - / 11 months, 2 weeks ago

As per usual, the city is doing something wasteful. I agree with #10- \removing traffic lanes in a rapidly expanding area\ IS nonsense. I’m all for bike lanes, but not on these busy roadways. Plus, what happens in the winter time? This is not Florida, warm weather is not year round. Are people riding bikes in the winter? These lanes should be created on another road in that neighborhood. Also, what happens to all of the cars? They need to car owners a solution to that since there is already no parking!! Not everyone has money to pay $200 for that parking garage by the courthouse.

#11 Anonymous / 11 months, 1 week ago

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