The Dangerous Intersection at 18th Street and Astoria Park South

At the last 114th precinct Community Council meeting, the dangerous intersection at 18th st and Astoria Park South was brought up as an example of the bad traffic management by the city. While it was asked that the Police Dept station an officer there to ensure safety for all, both pedestrians, micro vehicles, and automobiles, we at OANA feel the real long term solution is the installation of traffic controls, in particular a 3 way stop.

While the police may agree to stationing an officer, the reality is because often more critical law enforcement issues come up, along with staffing and budget issues, the likelihood that they will be able to fulfill this on a full-time basis is limited.

The real answer is infrastructure!! To this end, last September OANA reached out to NYC DOT to ask for a study be done on this intersection for traffic controls. However, regretfully as of now nothing has been done. Recently when we followed up, we got a response that they would begin the study this summer, for resolution in the fall. They wanted to do this study during the summer, as the busy pedestrian traffic to Astoria Park is a huge factor.

Anyways, if you have a specific issues at this corner, please report it to 311…. Even if you do not see any immediate action, the city uses the number of complaints of any issue as a determining factor how they will react.

Let us know about any other issues you are aware of, and we will try and help.