Boulevard of death gets a makeover: de Blasio announces Queens Boulevard improvements

One of the city’s most dangerous streets is getting more pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, service roads and ramps in an effort to make it safer and more accessible.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced details of the $100 million project to overhaul Queens Boulevard on Thursday morning. The project is part of de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan, which aims to end pedestrian fatalities. The program has lowered the city’s speed limit to 25 mph.

The city estimates that 250 people are killed each year in traffic-involved crashes on city streets.On Queens Boulevard, 185 people have been killed since 1990.

“We don’t accept that streets like Queens Boulevard have to be dangerous, that children and grandparents have to be taken from their families year after year …This street has earned the name ‘Boulevard of Death.’ Today, we begin work on the ‘Boulevard of Life,’” de Blasio said at the announcement.

The first part of the redesign will be between Roosevelt Avenue and 73rd Street, wrapping up in October. Construction will then extend east in 2016.

Changes include:

Pedestrian islands at 65th Place and 50th Street, mid-block crossing between 72nd and 73rd Streets, high visibility crosswalks and new signals at 66th and 68th Streets.
Protected bike lanes along the median, next to the service lane, in both directions.
ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps.
Reconfigured access to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway at 65th Place.