By Alexander Dworkowitz
Traffic on two roads just east of the Whitestone Expressway does not merit making the streets one-way in order to prevent vehicles from cutting through the neighborhood, the city has found.
The city Department of Transportation recently finished its study on 21st Avenue and 21st Road between the expressway and Parsons Boulevard.
“Their conclusion is that there is not enough traffic on those roads to justify converting them to one-way,” said Lisi de Bourbon, a DOT spokeswoman.
Since the College Point Corporate Park opened several years ago with big-box retailers drawing hordes of shoppers, residents on the opposite side of the Whitestone Expressway have complained of traffic congestion in their neighborhood.
In particular, 20th Avenue, which crosses the expressway and connects Whitestone with the stores on the opposite side, has seen a large increase in traffic.
In order to reduce congestion, the city has come up with a plan to widen 20th Avenue to two lanes in each direction from the expressway to Parsons Boulevard.
The plan, which would take property from residents’ yards, has caused an uproar among homeowners.
While the 20th Avenue plan is hotly debated, the city has been examining traffic solutions in the surrounding areas.
Last month Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing) held a meeting with residents living near 20th Avenue to discuss their complaints about congestion.
During rush hour, the northbound Whitestone Expressway service road heading toward 20th Avenue often moves at a snail’s pace. In order to avoid the congestion, many drivers cut through 21st Avenue and 21st Road, two quiet residential streets.
“The traffic backup on the Whitestone Expressway is unbearable, and the traffic spills over,” Liu said.
Residents on those streets have not been happy with cars and trucks driving down their streets.
“Where are they going to go?” asked a resident of 21st Avenue, who did not wish to give his name. The service road “is always backed up, and they are using this block.”
Making 21st Avenue and 21st Road one-way westbound streets would prevent drivers from jumping off the service road and onto the two roads.
The city conducted its study on a Saturday afternoon in March, de Bourbon said. On both roads, fewer than 100 cars came by in an hour. But for the roads to become one-way in these particular locations, more than 100 cars must pass by in an hour, she said.
“We would be happy to do another survey on another day if the community feels we didn’t get an accurate count,” she said.
While some residents have started a petition to make the streets one-way, Liu said he was not sure the majority of those on the two roads wanted the change.
“When the time comes, and when I have a clear sense from the residents of what they want to do, then I will request a study myself,” Liu said.
Both Liu and Marilyn Bitterman, district manager of Community Board 7, which covers Whitestone, had reservations about making the two streets one-way.
Liu worried about the change shuttling even more traffic on to 20th Avenue.
While CB 7 had requested the traffic study, Bitterman said she was not sure if having so many one-way streets was a good idea.
She added that cutting through the streets was tempting to drivers.
“We all do it. We all want to avoid the light on 20th Avenue.”
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
