According to the Daily News, 60 pedestrians have been killed on Queens Boulevard since 1993. Yet, NYC DOT did little until Borough President Claire Shulman and Council Member Karen Koslowitz earmarked funds for pedestrian improvements. But the findings from a new NYC DOT study of the avenue may not improve pedestrian safety much.

Intersections on Queens Boulevard are between 170 and 238 feet wide. The average pedestrian walks at 3.5 feet per second, making a reasonable crossing time between 48 and 68 seconds. Yet the report says, "during the AM and PM peak periods, the pedestrian crossing time cannot be increased to 52 seconds" because that would make the average wait for cars more than 40 seconds which is, "a significant impact on the vehicular level of service." 35% of the pedestrians hit by cars on the boulevard were 65+, a group that requires more time to cross streets. And although the City DOT may widen medians separating the east and westbound traffic (so pedestrians can wait for two light cycles to cross) it will do so by taking space from pedestrian areas that separate service roads from the main travel lanes.

The report says excessive car speeds are Queens Boulevard's main problem - only 30% of cars obey the speed limit in off-peak hours, and 25% travel at speeds that are more than 40mph. Yet the only traffic calming method that make it into the report - neckdowns - are recommended for the service roads rather than the main travel lanes. Other items - painting crosswalks, cutting curbs to meet ADA rules and timing lights to keep cars traveling at 30 mph - seem so standard that the real question is why the city had undertake a study to get started on them.

City DOT should develop a comprehensive overhaul plan for Queens Boulevard like that planned for the Grand Concourse. Both roads carry heavy traffic, some approaching highway speeds. Queens Boulevard could especially use more pedestrian crossings - some of its very long blocks promote dangerous jaywalking. Transportation Alternatives has also noted that Queens Boulevard would be a perfect testing ground for automated photo-radar speed law enforcement.

Congressman Serrano secured $10 million of "high priority" money in TEA-21 to redesign the Grand Concourse. It may take similar action by Queens elected officials to re-make Queens Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly city boulevard. State legislators in particular now have money available from the NY State "multi-modal" fund to launch studies and modest projects in their districts.