An announcement from Mayor Bill de Blasio at the P.S 70 town hall meeting on Wednesday stated that the popular street will be getting a redesign to make it more pedestrian friendly.

According to the Department of Transportation, reviews of the street have begun, with a focus on potential safety upgrades on the blocks between 28th and 35th Avenues. Steinway Street is already one of Astoria’s most popular hubs. Known for its shopping and various Middle Eastern Cuisine restaurants and Hookah Lounges that run down the sides. It’s always been a central location for Astorians.

What do you think of plans to make Steinway Street safer for the public?

The street has had its fair share of problems, though. In 2016 there were 11 pedestrians injured in traffic incidents between 28th and 35th Avenues, according to Vision Zero. There have been pushes for safety changes for a while. During his State of the District address earlier in the year, City Councilman Costa Constantinides also showed concern for the safety issues along the street.

“Residents and small business will benefit from a Steinway streetscape that is safer and more conducive to commerce”  he said in a statement on Thursday.

Mayor de Blasio shared those concerns;

“I know people are concerned about Steinway Street and making it a better environment for pedestrians…..The Department of Transportation will be creating a new design to make the Steinway Street corridor more pedestrian-friendly and safe,” de Blasio said in the town hall meeting. 

Some of Constantinides’ ideas for Steinway consist of a park or pedestrian plaza, as well as mid-block crosswalks for shoppers that would also hopefully deter speeding along the street.

 

 

*Featured Image Credit: DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska