In a major victory for families in the beachfront community of Far Rockaway, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D – Far Rockaway) announced a decision by the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to install a new traffic signal on Seagirt Boulevard at Beach 13th Street. This comes after Goldfeder wrote to the agency to request improved beach access for families living along the dangerous, heavily-trafficked arterial roadway.
“The boardwalk and beach are more than just a public park for our families in Far Rockaway. They are an extension of our homes and a great public space for the entire community. The installation of a traffic light at Beach 13th Street will improve access to the waterfront and increase pedestrian safety along this busy stretch of Seagirt Boulevard,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “Commissioner Garcia and the Department of Transportation have shown considerable leadership in their proactive approach to keeping our families safe on beach days and throughout the year.”
In an October 20th letter to Assemblyman Goldfeder, DOT Queens Commissioner Nicole Garcia announced the agency’s decision to approve a traffic light at the intersection of Seagirt Boulevard and Beach 13th Street. According to the letter, installation will be performed by contract and is tentatively scheduled to be completed by February. Studies of nearby Seagirt Boulevard intersections at Beach 11th, 14th and 16th streets found that signals were not recommended at these locations, the letter states.
The decision follows a February 2015 inquiry by Goldfeder into the lack of crosswalks along Seagirt Boulevard. As Goldfeder noted at the time, residents in the area have no safe way to cross the busy boulevard between Beach 9th and Beach 17th Streets. This lack of access encourages pedestrians to cut across the busy road rather than walk the extra blocks to reach a crosswalk, Goldfeder argued.
Seagirt Boulevard, which runs east-west in Far Rockaway, is a heavily-trafficked six-lane arterial roadway with grass medians that links the Rockaway Peninsula to nearby Nassau Expressway. The new traffic signal will be directly adjacent to the popular public beaches and city park on the southern side of the boulevard. The area is home to numerous local schools, as well as high rise residential complexes with large senior populations.
“My mother is 86 years old and when she comes to the beach, I have to help her cross the street. She can’t cross six lanes of traffic all by herself,” said Far Rockaway resident Betty Matza. “Now she will be more independent once this new traffic light is installed.”
In a 2014 study of the Far Rockaway Central Business District, the DOT determined that the nearby intersection of Beach 20th Street and Seagirt Boulevard was among the most dangerous in the community, with 33 traffic accidents occurring between 2007 and 2011. The area was also the subject of a walkthrough organized by Goldfeder with DOT’s Queens Office and attended by Commissioner Garcia.
“Our families and children deserve access to local parks without the fear of crossing dangerous streets and this new traffic signal will ensure everyone can utilize everything our community has to offer,” concluded Goldfeder.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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5 Responses
Yasher koach
OH GREAT!! Now we have a light another light in the neighborhood!
I can understand needing a light in the summer, and even then, only by day. But NYC doesn’t do it that way. Now even when driving at 11 p.m. there will be a light every few blocks. What a pain!
It already happened when they installed the light on Beach 9th by the school. They did it for “school safety”. But now there is a light every other block, during and not during school hours, which can be a real pain sometimes.
And unlike most cities, NYC does not coordinate the lights. So you can get stuck by almost every red.
Hey Annonymousschochom you must be one of the crazy drivers who think Beach 9 st is a drag racing strip. It is not. They should put up lights and cameras on EVERY corner. You are the pain. Stay off the roads, mishuganna. You won’t be happy until you kill somebody even if it is 11:00 at night!
(Reply to annonymouschochom)
My heart bleeds for you. Now you won’t be able to speed down at 60mph. Is it annoying that the lights are not coordinated? Yes. Does it get dangerous to make turns there sometimes because the cars come so quickly or you can’t see them around the bend? Yes. I’d rather be delayed by a minute or two than have my car hit or nearly hit.
Typical spoiled selfish yidden in Far Rockaway. Wait until you are 80 and see if you feel the same way.
Lights save life’s and it is long overdue.