“Vision Zero Great Streets” Aims to Make City Streets Safer for Pedestrians

Mayor de Blasio announced his “Great Streets” initiative program at a City Council transportation committee budget hearing on Thursday, March 5. As part of the “Vision Zero” project, the program will spend $250 million on making some of the city’s most dangerous streets safer for pedestrian traffic. Improvements will be made to the Grand Concourse, Atlantic Avenue, Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, and Queens Boulevard. Between 2009 and 2013, there were 34 fatalities and 215 serious injuries as a result of the dangerous conditions found on these four roadways. The De Blasio administration believes that increasing space for pedestrian traffic and cyclists will reduce such tragedies in the future.

One hundred million dollars (most of which will be spent in 2018) will be set aside for reconstruction to Queens Boulevard alone- a street that extends through over half of Queens and has become notorious for the dozens of accidents and fatalities that have afflicted pedestrians in the last few years. The amount of money allotted to this particular boulevard is high due to the implementation of new curbs and concrete.

Although most of the projects are projected to begin in 2017, many other changes will be implemented this year including curb extensions, changes in signal timing, and changes in street geometry by using paint and flexible posts. This program will also commit to 50 street safety projects a year.

If you or a loved one has been in an accident due to dangerous road conditions, contact an experienced attorney to make sure you are legally protected at Sakkas, Cahn & Weiss, LLP at (332) 239-1601.