Thursday, December 20, 2007

Trader Joe's traffic

Here's a shot of weekend traffic on Woodhaven Blvd, looking south from Metro. Sadly, the north side of the intersection, which is not pictured, is usually worse. The Q54 has become one of the slowest bus routes in Queens now that it has to pass the Trader Joe's complex and make a detour down Cooper Avenue to the Atlas Park Mall through another traffic nightmare. Let's hope something can be done about it soon. (Wisely not holding my breath, however.)

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

for as long as i can remember - decades - woodhaven and metro intersection and the lead up to it has ALWAYS been a horror show.
The area blight is gone now. Jobs have been created.

Anonymous said...

Here is the problem with the intersection: cars need to be diverted under the ramp and around the other side and into the parking lot. Then you won't get the backup at the turn signal. But that is too easy and makes too much sense so it will never be done. As for the previous comment, there never was backup like there is now. Period.

Anonymous said...

I took the Q54 bus the other day and it took me more than an hour to get from Kew Gardens to the M train station.

Anonymous said...

What can be done to speed the Q54 on it's way? How about rerouting it BACK to Metropolitan Avenue. The MTA Is proposing to reroute the Q45 to accommodate the mall. Think traffic is bad now? Just wait.

Unknown said...

No,No, anything but a flourishing, vibrant community, no, anything but that!!!!

Anonymous said...

The Trader Joe's addition to congestion in this dangerous Woodhaven insection does not help any to relieve the problem. The crux of the problem lay with the initial planning and approval of Home Depot and the growth and expansions adjacent to it such as Trader Joe. That infrastructure planning was non existent and were paying a huge price. Home Depot ran roughshod across Queens and is the most poorly managed of corporte properties wherever they do buisness. Go take a look at Lowes, their archrival competitor and you would be shocked in comparison to how they are run and maintain their public spaces.

Anonymous said...

So now traffic and big box retailers indicate a flourishing, vibrant community. Yikes...

Anonymous said...

"flourishing, vibrant community"

There's a tweeder in the house!

Anonymous said...

Having a bus stop at a shopping area so the community can get there rather than the bus driving through an empty cemetary is the most logical, common-sense thing to do.
I'm not sure what the point is of this post other than to negatively imply that Trader Joe's is bad because of all this traffic, which is a ridiculous implication. First, you have nothing tangible to compare how much the Trader Joe's has affected the traffic, which has always been heavy at this intersection. Second, even if there is increased traffic, the benefits of having the businesses in this location far outweigh the negatives, which can be improved and addressed.

georgetheatheist said...

Trader Joe's? You mean Trader Schmucks.

Over-priced fodder and swill.

Enjoy your wallets being emptied, wannabee gourmet idiots.

Anonymous said...

Total BS!
Trader Joe's doesn't fit the definition of "big-box."
We should welcome any co. that promotes better health thru foods to it's customers. Makes Qns. better off.
I've been going (a long ways) to Trader Joe's for yrs. and am only happy that there's one in my nabe now.
As far as the traffic... yes, that's an issue and should be alleviated via DOT (yeah, good luck) but to point blame at a vendor that is good for Qns makes this website that I avidly support look like it's lost it's focus.

Anonymous said...

I like Trader Joes. Good quality food at unbeatable prices. I go at night so I don't get caught up in the traffic nightmare.
Having lived in Elmhurst between the Queens place and Queens Center malls, this "traffic" as you call it is nothing.
I'd rather endure traffic to go to trader joes than walk right into stop and shop and be held up at the register.

Queens Crapper said...

Let's see. I posted a photo of traffic. I named the cause of the traffic. I said I hoped there could be something done to fix it. I never said anything negative about Trader Joe's. Previously I've suggested something close to what the 2nd commenter did. Some people are verrrry defensive about things.

Anonymous said...

As I read the post and comments, no one blamed Trader Joe's for anything. But you can't deny that there has been an increase in traffic at the intersection because of the opening of it.

georgetheatheist said...

Hey Crapper, you just can't rein in the Craperoos. We're like Yankee-Doodle. We stick a feather in our caps and, get this, we call it "macaroni". Hahahaha.

Unknown said...

First of all, I never said anything about "queenscrap" (talk about defensive). Second of all - WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT?!?!
You are never happy with anything. All you ever do is bitch and complain and never ever bring viable solutions to the table.
It is fine to be upset and dissatisfied but bring something to the table as an alternative. Suggest ways for an improvement. All you people do is bash, as if you are so much better then everyone else.
Why dont you just give in and move already, The Poconos, Franklin Square, West Virgina - just go already.

Queens Crapper said...

Actually, I was responding to the anonymous poster 2 comments above my last one, Mike. Take it easy, buddy, you may have a stroke.

Anonymous said...

Of course, he could have been that anonymous commenter, crappy.

Anonymous said...

They should number these comentaries with numbers by them to make them easyier to keep track of them so if you want to say something about somebody something say in a coment on top, on the page, it would be easyier then to do this and not be so confucing and create a foul mixup that makes people upset.

Anonymous said...

The same thing is happening in northern Queens with the shopping center on 20th Avenue in College Point. The communities of Mitchell-Linden, College Point, and Whitestone are paying a heavy price for the privilege of having large corporate retail stores in this area.

The traffic at the 20th Avenue exit has never been properly planned for and this is leading to delays entering or exiting the Whitestone Expressway. Is anyone testing the levels of pollution in these areas to see if there is a health impact on the citizens of these communities?

Some of us are paying a high price for living in areas that were not congested a few years ago but have been developed without appropriate planning for traffic. I am talking about the impact of pollution on our collective health such as increased rates of asthma, cancer, and other environmentally-related diseases.

The officials of New York City (with Mayor Dumberg at the head of this snake) have blatantly ignored these issues so that major retailers can bolster their bottom lines. The mayor's buddies have had their way long enough and it is time that we, the people, speak out. It is obvious that most elected officials are avoiding the issue. The inconvenienc of being stuck in traffic is only a part of the problem.

I have read the piece and the comments. I specifically take umbrage at the remark made by Michael, " No,No, anything but a flourishing, vibrant community, no, anything but that!!!!" Please explain to me and the rest of the people reading this how the community prospers from overdevelopment? Taxes and utility costs keep rising so where is the benefit?

The infrastructure is overtaxed. How is that flourishing and vibrant to these communities and others facing the same situation? What I am seeking is a balance so that people are not forced to leave without really wanting to. Who will be left to pick up the pieces when established communities can no longer sustain the traffic and increased pollution?

Anonymous said...

It is fine to be upset and dissatisfied but bring something to the table as an alternative. Suggest ways for an improvement. All you people do is bash, as if you are so much better then everyone else.

Thank God this is the USA where free speech is a right of every citizen. Thank God for Queens Crap that allows us all to post an opinion favored or opposed on the topic available to commment on. As a private site, Crappy is King Crapper the gate crap keeper of our crappy posts. Thus thank you Crapper for allowing the different points of views, some of which have given me a fresh insight, entertained me and sometimes changed my thoughts when I thought otherwise. All of you are my Queens Crappy neighbors, I learn from you and pushes me to be more active to make Queens a better place to live - I thank God you care - whom ever you are or from and what your views may be.

Anonymous said...

"It is fine to be upset and dissatisfied but bring something to the table as an alternative. Suggest ways for an improvement."

Okay...STOP BUILDING!!!

The first course of action is take a realistic look at how any project, large or small, will fit into a community and examine any infrastructure challenges, specifically transportation needs such as vehicular volume and public transportation services.

Our elected officials and the media are guilty of pandering so that certain developers can have their way with us...consequences be damned! Unfortunately, many of the problems have been created without any viable solutions. Where was the planning for roadways, access, and egress points?

Thank goodness that Crappy gives people the forum to express views counter to the establishment. If it were not for this website, many of us would be totally unaware of events and issues around the borough that are not reported any where else. What we do not know CAN hurt us!

Anonymous said...

Look, the guys in city planning are a bunch of second stringers. They are hired with the goal of cramming in more DEVELOPMENT, not planning for a city for us all.

Their ability to BULLSHIT and MUZZLE the public is important, but usualy easy since public meetings are almost alway scripted to MAXIMIZE THEIR DRONE and MINIMIZE THE PUBLIC's ability to make legitimate complaints.