The Chronicle has obtained a letter in which eight elected officials who represent Jamaica or neighboring areas call on the city Department of Transportation to end its intended year-long study of how bus lanes are affecting Jamaica Avenue.
The letter to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia, dated July 8, says businesses are being harmed and that residents are complaining about a lack of accessibility along the popular commercial and retail shopping corridor.
It was sent on the letterhead of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, but also was signed by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica), Councilmembers Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Laurelton) and Nantasha Williams (D-St. Albans); state Sens. Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park); and Assemblymembers Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens) and Khaleel Anderson (South Ozone Park).
“The DOT has expressed to the community the need for a year-long study to best determine the impact of the bus lanes on Jamaica Avenue,” the letter states. “However, we believe a six-month study is enough to give the DOT sufficient ability to understand the impact these bus lanes have had on businesses and everyday residents in Jamaica.”
The elected officials want the study to be concluded and the results published by the end of summer.
Numerous businesses have complained to the Chronicle since the start of the year about how the bus lanes and lack of traffic have hammered their bottom lines.
The July 8 letter’s language on that topic was diplomatic but unmistakably clear.
“Downtown Jamaica has been subject to a major transportation shift as the community has continued to grow and revitalize,” it states. “While we understand the need for improved bus service, the Jamaica Avenue bus lanes have had a significant and damaging effect on businesses along the corridor. Our offices have also received several complaints from local residents about a lack of accessibility along Jamaica Avenue.”
The signatories also would like the DOT to install signs along Jamaica Avenue with more clear and concise language to help individuals better understand the rules for things like parking, loading areas and standing zones.
8 comments:
Good luck enforcing bus lanes Over there. Everyone over there is so nice and will actually pay their tickets or listen to the police to move out of the lanes 🙄
Is this Part of the Great Reset designed by the World Economic Forum ?
Sheeple shut up and take it up the kazoo like you always do.
You dont'want to anger commie unions and the nut job TA greenies.
Is this part of the New Green Deal ?
Buses are for communists.
Prove me wrong …
Imagine all the disasters going on in the country and we are talking about transportation being a major problem… It is so pathetic it is laughable. But it is not funny.
I was driving over there on Thursday, it is absolutely impossible to figure out where you can drive. Wotta mess...
Has there been any place in the City where bus lanes have actually improved business? The bike totalitarians constantly claim that bus and bike lanes will increase business, despite every business in the area begging they not be put in.
I know multiple stores on Queens Blvd. went out of business thanks to bike lanes. How about everywhere else?
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