Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Other Van Wyck ramps on hold

From the Queens Chronicle:

A plan to close two exit ramps on the Van Wyck Expressway that was opposed by local community boards and the Queens Borough President’s Office has been suspended indefinitely.

The proposal was crafted by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and Department of Transportation and was designed to speed traffic flow into Kennedy International Airport, according to both agencies. The EDC confirmed this week that the proposal would be put on hiatus for now.

The plan would have closed the Jamaica Avenue off-ramp on the northbound side along with the Liberty Avenue off-ramp on the southbound side.

However, since it was announced earlier this summer, the proposed closures drew the ire of business and civic groups, and community boards 9, 10 and 12, who said it would negatively impact emergency vehicle traffic into Jamaica Hospital and hurt businesses in the area.

City officials had argued the closings would reduce car accidents on the Van Wyck while cutting travel time to the airport.

Mary Ann Carey, chairwoman of Community Board 9, said she would continue to oppose the plan if the city attempts to revive it.

“I am very pleased the they are not going to pursue this ridiculous idea,” she said. “I don’t understand the reasoning behind it.”

Carey said she had discussed what effect the closures would have with officials from Jamaica Hospital, and they had raised concerns about making it harder for ambulances and hospital staff to get to the facility.

She said the EDC had floated an idea where the exits would be closed for regular traffic but open to emergency hospital traffic, but Carey expressed doubt at the logistics of that plan.

“How is that going to happen?” she asked. “Are they going to have a cop sit at the exit ramp all day? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Also, Carey said closing the two exits would further congest traffic on roads like Liberty Avenue.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Richmond Hill Economic Development Council


Press Release Updated 08/15/2010


The Richmond Hill Economic Development Council (RHEDC) and the NYC Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) held a Public Input Session on Wednesday August 11th at the Maha Lakshmi Courtyard located at 121-15 101st Ave in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. The Input Session is for the NYCDOT to listen to the businesses and residents along Liberty Ave from Van Wyck Expressway to Woodhaven Blvd, the Liberty Ave Retail Corridor.

This Input Session was requested by RHEDC as other input sessions did not attract the businesses along the Liberty Ave Retail Corridor. RHEDC is focused on the economic development of businesses along the Liberty Ave Retail Corridor.

Anonymous said...

The Input Session was attended by several businesses in its Retail Corridor. The NYCDOT delegation was lead by Commissioner Marva McCarthy. The MTA was represented by Joseph Raskin. State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo and State Assemblyman Michael Miller were present and endorsed the efforts of the RHEDC. They added valuable information about the state’s transportation issues. There were representatives from Congressmen Meeks and Weiner and State Assemblyman Rory Lancman. Ricardi Calixtie - Queens Economic Development Corporation, Frank Singh - Inter Community Civic Association, Indo Caribbean Federation and Richard David - the Indo Caribbean Alliance were present and supported the efforts of the RHEDC. There was a large contingent of Punjabis led by Gurcharan S. Baring, Gurmej Singh, Harpreet S. Toor, Titoo Walia and Piara Singh. Mike Duvalle, a pioneer for the Elevator / Escalator at Liberty Ave, Mithulal Mangal, Guyanese Solidarity Movement and Hari Dukhram, Republican District Leader were also present and provided significant logistic support. Key business owners in attendance were Dan Zeidner – Dollar Dan, Roger - Boom Boom, Danny Sanasie – Party Station, Bhola Ramsundar – Bhola’s Travel & Insurance, Basil Persaud – Persaud Hardware and Jay Nabie – Business Solutions and Faith Assembly. Both precincts 102nd and 106th were represented. The youths were represented by Nadira Persaud, Richard David, Faudia Baijnauth and Vidya Jamoona from the United Hindu Senior Center. T

Anonymous said...

here were several political candidates present including Nick Comianni for Assembly AD38 and Asher Taub for congress CD06.

The meeting was chaired by Darmen Bachu and Nan K. Bedesi. Vishnu Mahadeo was the master of ceremonies.

RHEDC read the email sent from New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) regarding the proposed Closure of the Exit Ramps of the Van Wyck Expressway, namely Liberty Ave exits. RHEDC also stated that they will be recruiting members from the community to review the data and analysis done by NYCEDC.

The NYCDOT presented its Congested Liberty Ave Project and solicited input from the audience. Commissioner McCarthy addressed many issues related to the Liberty Ave Congested Project and took notes regarding issues of additional parking spaces and Load Areas and Times for Commercial vehicle. She deferred questions on the proposed closure of exit ramps of the Van Wyck Expressway. Gregory Haas and Andrew Lenton identified several “Hot Spots” along the Liberty Ave Retail Corridor and solicited input from the many business owners that were present. NYCDOT announced that it is planning a Public Walk Thru within the next two months.

During the Input session many issues were expressed:
- Liberty Ave is the "Aorta" of Richmond Hill.
- Liberty Ave is deemed viable for a Business Improvement District status
- Liberty Ave is the Economic Hub of South Queens and environs (Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Wakefield, Woodhaven, Jamaica etc.)
- Liberty Ave is the Cultural Capital of the South Queens area
- Liberty Ave is the "Broadway of South Queens".

RHEDC is pleased to report that this meeting was a major opportunity for the business community to voice their concerns on the Congested Liberty Ave Project and more importantly their strong rejection of the proposed closure of any ramps of Liberty Ave exits of the Van Wyck Expressway.

RHEDC signaled their willingness to work with the NYCEDC to make the Southbound Liberty Ave Exit safer.

RHEDC saved the most significant announcement for the last. Joseph Raskin announced that the MTA is in the preliminary design stage of adding an elevator to the Lefferts Blvd / Liberty Ave Stop. During his question and answer session, Raskin stated that this project will be completed by 2014.

RHEDC was pleased that the MTA selected its forum to make this important announcement. This announcement got a standing ovation as it answered 2 decades of calls for an elevator and escalator at Lefferts Blvd. RHEDC recognized the contribution of all the participations in this journey and will continue to work in this manner for the better of the community.

RHEDC sincerely thank the Maha Lakshmi Mandir management and Pandit Swasti Dubey for their continued commitment to community services. Nala Singham – Caribbean New Yorker, Larry Diaram – ITV, Alim Hassim – West Indian Newspaper, Dave Narine and Jas Persaud for their continual support in the Media

RHEDC Contact info: Email:- RichmondHillEDC@gmail.com
Tel:- (347) 323-6019
Address:- 127-21 Liberty Ave
Richmond Hill, NY 11419

Anonymous said...

There were several political candidates present including Nick Comianni for Assembly AD38 and Asher Taub for congress CD06.

The meeting was chaired by Darmen Bachu and Nan K. Bedesi. Vishnu Mahadeo was the master of ceremonies.

Anonymous said...

RHEDC read the email sent from New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) regarding the proposed Closure of the Exit Ramps of the Van Wyck Expressway, namely Liberty Ave exits. RHEDC also stated that they will be recruiting members from the community to review the data and analysis done by NYCEDC.

The NYCDOT presented its Congested Liberty Ave Project and solicited input from the audience. Commissioner McCarthy addressed many issues related to the Liberty Ave Congested Project and took notes regarding issues of additional parking spaces and Load Areas and Times for Commercial vehicle. She deferred questions on the proposed closure of exit ramps of the Van Wyck Expressway. Gregory Haas and Andrew Lenton identified several “Hot Spots” along the Liberty Ave Retail Corridor and solicited input from the many business owners that were present. NYCDOT announced that it is planning a Public Walk Thru within the next two months.

During the Input session many issues were expressed:
- Liberty Ave is the "Aorta" of Richmond Hill.
- Liberty Ave is deemed viable for a Business Improvement District status
- Liberty Ave is the Economic Hub of South Queens and environs (Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Wakefield, Woodhaven, Jamaica etc.)
- Liberty Ave is the Cultural Capital of the South Queens area
- Liberty Ave is the "Broadway of South Queens".

RHEDC is pleased to report that this meeting was a major opportunity for the business community to voice their concerns on the Congested Liberty Ave Project and more importantly their strong rejection of the proposed closure of any ramps of Liberty Ave exits of the Van Wyck Expressway.

RHEDC signaled their willingness to work with the NYCEDC to make the Southbound Liberty Ave Exit safer.

RHEDC saved the most significant announcement for the last. Joseph Raskin announced that the MTA is in the preliminary design stage of adding an elevator to the Lefferts Blvd / Liberty Ave Stop. During his question and answer session, Raskin stated that this project will be completed by 2014.

RHEDC was pleased that the MTA selected its forum to make this important announcement. This announcement got a standing ovation as it answered 2 decades of calls for an elevator and escalator at Lefferts Blvd. RHEDC recognized the contribution of all the participations in this journey and will continue to work in this manner for the better of the community.

RHEDC sincerely thank the Maha Lakshmi Mandir management and Pandit Swasti Dubey for their continued commitment to community services. Nala Singham – Caribbean New Yorker, Larry Diaram – ITV, Alim Hassim – West Indian Newspaper, Dave Narine and Jas Persaud for their continual support in the Media

RHEDC Contact info: Email:- RichmondHillEDC@gmail.com
Tel:- (347) 323-6019
Address:- 127-21 Liberty Ave
Richmond Hill, NY 11419

Anonymous said...

RHEDC read the email sent from New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) regarding the proposed Closure of the Exit Ramps of the Van Wyck Expressway, namely Liberty Ave exits. RHEDC also stated that they will be recruiting members from the community to review the data and analysis done by NYCEDC.

The NYCDOT presented its Congested Liberty Ave Project and solicited input from the audience. Commissioner McCarthy addressed many issues related to the Liberty Ave Congested Project and took notes regarding issues of additional parking spaces and Load Areas and Times for Commercial vehicle. She deferred questions on the proposed closure of exit ramps of the Van Wyck Expressway. Gregory Haas and Andrew Lenton identified several “Hot Spots” along the Liberty Ave Retail Corridor and solicited input from the many business owners that were present. NYCDOT announced that it is planning a Public Walk Thru within the next two months.

During the Input session many issues were expressed:
- Liberty Ave is the "Aorta" of Richmond Hill.
- Liberty Ave is deemed viable for a Business Improvement District status
- Liberty Ave is the Economic Hub of South Queens and environs (Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Wakefield, Woodhaven, Jamaica etc.)
- Liberty Ave is the Cultural Capital of the South Queens area
- Liberty Ave is the "Broadway of South Queens".

RHEDC is pleased to report that this meeting was a major opportunity for the business community to voice their concerns on the Congested Liberty Ave Project and more importantly their strong rejection of the proposed closure of any ramps of Liberty Ave exits of the Van Wyck Expressway.

RHEDC signaled their willingness to work with the NYCEDC to make the Southbound Liberty Ave Exit safer.

RHEDC saved the most significant announcement for the last. Joseph Raskin announced that the MTA is in the preliminary design stage of adding an elevator to the Lefferts Blvd / Liberty Ave Stop. During his question and answer session, Raskin stated that this project will be completed by 2014.

Anonymous said...

RHEDC was pleased that the MTA selected its forum to make this important announcement. This announcement got a standing ovation as it answered 2 decades of calls for an elevator and escalator at Lefferts Blvd. RHEDC recognized the contribution of all the participations in this journey and will continue to work in this manner for the better of the community.

RHEDC sincerely thank the Maha Lakshmi Mandir management and Pandit Swasti Dubey for their continued commitment to community services. Nala Singham – Caribbean New Yorker, Larry Diaram – ITV, Alim Hassim – West Indian Newspaper, Dave Narine and Jas Persaud for their continual support in the Media

RHEDC Contact info: Email:- RichmondHillEDC@gmail.com
Tel:- (347) 323-6019
Address:- 127-21 Liberty Ave
Richmond Hill, NY 11419