Astoria
Streetsblog Basics
Tonight: Important Queens Community Board 1 Meeting on Astoria Plaza
The intersection of 30th Avenue, 33rd Street and Newtown Avenue was the site of DOT's first-ever one-day demonstration plaza. Will it get a permanent public space enhancement?
September 11, 2012
Astoria Gets a One-Day Plaza Demo as Community Board Vote Approaches
Facing a small but influential opposition to a permanent plaza in Astoria, DOT installed a one-day demonstration on Saturday to give neighborhood residents a sneak peak of how the street could be transformed. The demo, a first for DOT, was installed before Queens Community Board 1 votes on the proposal on September 11.
August 27, 2012
Based on Limited Feedback, Vallone Opposes Astoria Pedestrian Plaza
City Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. opposes a proposal to create a new pedestrian plaza in public space-starved Astoria. The plaza is one of the options on the table for a dangerous intersection that NYC DOT has targeted for safety imporovements.
June 12, 2012
Western Queens Locals Tell DOT Their Vision for Bike-Friendly Neighborhoods
Many cyclists in Queens feel theirs is the forgotten borough. Though it ranks first in size and second in population, Queens ranks third behind Brooklyn and Manhattan in bike lanes. And the existing bike lanes too rarely link up, cyclists say, discouraging bicycle use for commuting to work or for recreation.
March 5, 2012
NYCDOT Prioritizes Sustainable Modes at Queens Approach to Triborough
Plans for a new pedestrian area between Hoyt Avenue South and Astoria Boulevard. Pedestrians already crowd this space, which is only set off from traffic by striping (visible under the simulated sidewalk). Rendering: NYCDOT NYCDOT has proposed a significant street redesign for the base of the RFK Bridge (a.k.a. the Triborough) in Astoria [PDF], a … Continued
June 1, 2010
DOT Shows No Traffic Calming Ingenuity for Astoria’s Deadly 21st Ave
Over the last six weeks, Astoria residents have made a strong push for a safer 21st Avenue, a street plagued by speeding cut-through traffic. In response to requests for traffic calming, NYCDOT recently sent what one resident called a "cryptic letter" explaining only that the street would not be receiving speed humps. Although DOT is now studying additional measures, residents would like to see a stronger response from the agency.
January 14, 2010
Queens CB1 Chair: Secure Bike Parking Serves “No Purpose”
A zoning change that would provide better bike parking options in new buildings is wending its way through the city's public review process, which means 59 community boards have a chance to vote on it. The Queens Gazette reports from the goings on at CB1, which encompasses Astoria and Long Island City:
January 6, 2009
Astoria Musician Arturo Flores Killed by Van Driver
Arturo Flores, a Queens musician who played Andean wind instruments, was struck and killed by a van this Tuesday while biking in Astoria. Reports of his death have appeared in a local message board, neighborhood blogs, and a Peruvian music blog. Conventional news coverage has not surfaced online, but a sparse account appeared in the print edition of the Daily News:
October 24, 2008
CB2 Chairman Punts Queens Greenway Vote Over Loss of Parking
From Transportation Alternatives' Queens Committee Chair Mike Heffron:
May 9, 2008