SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND DELIVER NEARLY $30 MILLION TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF NOTORIOUSLY DANGEROUS QUEENS BOULEVARD; THROUGH A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE & JOBS LAW PROGRAM, FED GRANT WILL HELP IMPROVE LOCAL ROADWAY AND STRENGTHEN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WITH ELEVATED CROSSWALKS, ENHANCED MEDIANS AND PROTECTED BIKE LANES

New Grant Will Help New York City Execute Safety Action Plan And Boost Road Safety Features For Queens Boulevard

Senators Say “Safe Streets and Roads for All” Fed Grants, Created In The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, Will Help Communities Save Lives With Proven Safety Measures Like Elevated Protected Bicycle Lanes, Pedestrian Refuge Islands, Pedestrian Malls, And More

Schumer, Gillibrand: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Is Driving Road Improvements And Paving The Way For Increased Safety On Streets Across NY

Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $29,750,000 in federal funds to implement road safety improvements for a section of Queens Boulevard in Woodside. This $29.75 million federal grant is part of Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), a program created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law Schumer led to passage. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding will help implement a safety action plan for Queens Boulevard, including elevated crosswalks and pedestrian malls, enhanced medians and pedestrian refuge islands, as well as elevated protected bike lanes. The funding will also enable enhanced monitoring of traffic injuries and expand the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance technology.

“This substantial federal investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law will help New York City implement multiple life-saving measures on Queens Boulevard. From elevated crosswalks, pedestrian malls and refuge islands, to enhanced medians and elevated, protected bike lanes, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike will be safer with these improvements,” said Senator Schumer. “These federal funds empower New York City to strengthen roadway safety by implementing proven measures that will reduce injuries and traffic related incidents. I’m proud to deliver this federal grant that will help improve the safety of this central roadway, and help save lives by driving forward much needed safety features, stopping accidents before they happen, and laying the foundation for safer streets.”

“Queens Boulevard is one of New York City’s most dangerous roads, where dozens of pedestrians have died over the past few decades,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am so proud to bring home nearly $30 million in federal funding to reimagine the corridor, significantly reduce accidents and injuries, and make Queens Boulevard safe for our families to use.”  

According to New York City Department of Transportation, 233 people, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, were injured on Queens Boulevard between Union Turnpike and Jamaica Avenue from 2016 to 2020. Due to high rates of severe pedestrian injuries, Queens Boulevard became a Vision Zero priority for New York City.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Schumer led to passage as Majority Leader, established the SS4A discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law more than doubled funding for surface transportation programs that improve roadway safety.

Details on the federal grant for Queens Boulevard can be found below: