Flushing, NY – Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) held a press conference today in front of the Public Health Solutions’ Neighborhood WIC Center calling on the City Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement traffic calming measures at the intersection of Blossom Avenue and Main Street. Rozic was joined by State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing), Council Member Peter Koo (D-Flushing), Families for Safe Streets, staff from the WIC Center and Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing Chinese Business Association Executive Director Peter Tu, and Queensboro Hill Flushing Civic Association President Don Capalbi in expressing pedestrian safety concerns.

Back in October 2015, Rozic wrote to DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia requesting that traffic calming measures be installed at the intersection. The letter cited an accident that occurred that month in which a young couple was struck trying to cross the street and the high volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the neighborhood. Multiple public schools, residential buildings, the Public Health Solutions’ Neighborhood WIC Center, Queens Botanical Garden, and SelfHelp Rosenthal Senior Center surround the intersection that currently has no traffic calming measures.

“The Flushing community made it clear that something needed to be done. For far too long, traffic at this intersection has gone unchecked. With so many people travelling through the area, whether walking or driving, it is imperative that DOT does not neglect the critical needs of the community,” said Rozic.

Today’s push follows DOT’s response to that letter informing Rozic’s office that the intersection of Blossom Avenue and Main Street falls into a designation of traffic space in which the area is too busy for a stop sign, however not busy enough for a traffic signal. The refusal to implement traffic calming measures where seniors, students, women and children in strollers are frequently attempting to cross this highly trafficked roadway would have detrimental and potentially fatal consequences.

“If we have learned anything from the Vision Zero initiative, it’s that prevention is key. Unfortunately, we were not able to prevent the injuries of a young couple at the intersection of Blossom Avenue and Main Street in October, but we can prevent future tragedies at this site,” said State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. “The Flushing community has called for traffic calming measures at this dangerous corner and it is our job as representatives of the Flushing community to do all we can to bring about these remedies. That this intersection was deemed too busy for a stop sign, yet not busy enough for a traffic signal is not a satisfactory response. I have worked with Commissioner Garcia on many issues and found her to be reasonable. She has worked hard to bring much needed change to Queens and I hope she will consider revisiting the traffic study and find a way to make the intersection of Blossom Avenue and Main Street as safe as possible.”

“The city must do everything in its power to make sure pedestrians can cross the streets in safety, and that motorists are given the appropriate tools to make safe decisions behind the wheel. Traffic calming measures at this location would assist both of these goals, and I strongly encourage the DOT to revisit its analysis of this intersection,” said Council Member Peter Koo.

Rozic’s letter to DOT was not the first time neighborhood concerns were expressed to the agency. Multiple community advocates reached out to find a solution. Together with State Senator Stavisky, Council Member Koo, and the Flushing community, Rozic is asking DOT to revisit the study and deliver results that will ensure the safety of all whom traffic this area.

“Tragedy struck our family when our 3 year old daughter Allison was killed by a careless driver only one block from this location. DOT has made several updates to prevent the chance it will happen again by prioritizing pedestrian safety with changes like leading pedestrian signals,” said Amy Tam Liao, founding member of Families for Safe Streets. “We are baffled that changes are not possible so close to where our community was shaken again when two more lives were violently struck.”

“Public Health Solutions’ Flushing Neighborhood WIC Center supports Assemblywoman Rozic’s, Senator Stavisky’s and Council Member Koo’s request to the NYC Department of Transportation to provide a satisfactory and prompt solution to the unsafe intersection directly outside of our WIC center. We encourage every appropriate measure be taken to ensure safe streets for our WIC participants, staff, and Flushing community members,” said Sabrina Baronberg, Neighborhood WIC Program.