1. LEFFERTS BOULEVARD STATION

Transcription

1 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT. LEFFERTS BOULEVARD STATION. LOCATION The Lefferts Boulevard station is the terminus of the Fulton Street Line of the A train in Queens. Located along Liberty Avenue with entrances at both th Street and Lefferts Boulevard, the elevated station serves the neighborhoods of Ozone Park and Richmond Hill. Liberty Avenue is a commercial street surrounded by residential uses along the side streets. MANHATTAN THE BRONX QUEENS Lefferts Blvd. (A)!. AREA TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES The neighborhoods of Ozone Park and Richmond Hill are well served by public transit and include several major automobile arterials. The Van Wyck Expressway lies parallel to Lefferts Boulevard, less than one mile west of the station, and the Belt Parkway lies to its south. STATEN ISLAND BROOKLYN Liberty Avenue is a major east-west arterial that runs through Queens and carries two way through automobile traffic. Lefferts Boulevard is a two way arterial that runs north-south. While there are no designated truck routes immediately adjacent to the station, a significant amount of truck loading and unloading activity occurs on Liberty Avenue. Local truck routes just outside the primary study area include Rockaway Boulevard to the south and Cross Bay Boulevard to the west, which turns into Woodhaven Boulevard north of Liberty Avenue. Through truck routes include Atlantic Avenue to the north of the primary study area and the Van Wyck Expressway to the east. The elevated Fulton Street A line runs above Liberty Avenue, and has stations at Lefferts Boulevard, th and 4 th Streets. The elevated J-Z line and the Long Island Rail Road are located to the north of the Lefferts Boulevard station. The Lefferts Boulevard station is directly served by the Q bus line, which runs along Lefferts Boulevard, between Kew Gardens and the Central Terminal Area at JFK Airport. The area is also served by the Q bus line that runs between Jamaica Center and Ozone Park.

2 EXISTING CONDITIONS This map illustrates the various types and locations of the surrounding transportation facilities FOREST PARK MYRTLE AV KEW GARDENS # RICHMOND HILL F LINE, HILLSIDE AVE # JAMAICA RICHMOND HILL WOODHAVEN WOODHAVEN BL J-Z ATLANTIC AV VAN WYCK EP ST AV LIBERTY AV Lefferts Boulevard (A) A LEFFERTS BL OZONE PARK LINDEN BL BAYSIDE CEMETERY ROCKAWAY BL CROSS BAY BL AQUEDUCT RACE TRACK N CONDUIT BL SOUTH OZONE PARK.. Miles 8 N LINDENWOOD SOUTHERN PY LEFFERTS BOULEVARD STATION SUBWAY LINES AND STATIONS LIRR TRACKS OTHER PROJECT SITES TRUCK ROUTES LIRR STATION

3 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT. SECONDARY STUDY AREA AV AV ST The secondary study area includes the quarter-mile radius (or an approximate five-minute walk) surrounding the Lefferts Boulevard station. Roughly, this includes the area from th Street to th Street and from st Avenue to 9 th Avenue. 4 ST LEFFERTS BLVD ST ST ST ST LIBERTY AV LEFFERTS BLVD ST 8 ST ST 7 ST 4 ST ST 7 AV ST 9 AV. POPULATION DATA The population pie chart shows the age distribution of residents in census tracts that intersect the secondary study area as reported by 99 US Census. The total population of the area was 8,. The population in the secondary study area had a lower percentage of senior citizens than the population of the city as a whole. Approximately nine percent of its residents were over the age of, compared to % for all of New York City. On the other hand, there was a greater percentage of people aged and under (%) than the city as whole (9%). A large majority of the people living in the area fall between the ages of and 4 (8%). This figure is consistent with the citywide average. Age/Years - % of Population 8.% AGE DISTRIBUTION % 7.% + (9.47%) % 8.% - (.9%) -9.% % % % 8 +.8% -4 (8.%)

4 EXISTING CONDITIONS. JOURNEY TO WORK The Journey to Work chart presents the distribution of various means of transportation among commuters living in census tracts that intersect a quarter-mile radius of the Lefferts Boulevard station. These data were taken from the 99 US Census. In these census tracts, the dominant mode of transportation to work was the elevated, which accounted for 9% of commuters who lived in the area. Based on the census data, % of commuters drove alone and % took the bus. Nine percent of commuters car pooled, four percent of local residents walked to work, two percent traveled by rail road, and one percent worked at home. These percentages are consistent with commuters citywide with the exception of those that walk to work, which is % citywide. The remaining two percent traveled by other means of transportation. Reverse Journey to Work data indicate that % of the people who work in the area walked to work. While 7% of reverse commuters traveled to work alone in a car, truck or van, only nine percent traveled to work by subway or elevated train. Another ten percent traveled to work by bus, eight percent car pooled, and eight percent worked at home. The remaining two percent of reverse commuters traveled to work by other means of transportation. JOURNEY TO WORK Lefferts Secondary Study Area Subway or Elevated Car, Truck, or Van Bus or Trolleybus Carpool Walked Railroad Worked at Home Other Taxicab Bicycle 4 Number of Trips Journey to Work Reverse Journey to Work 4

5 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT. MODE OF ACCESS TO SUBWAY STATION According to the MTA s 99 Survey of Subway Riders, 7% of users of the Lefferts Boulevard elevated walk to the station. Compared to other stations in Queens, a high percentage of people access the station by car (%) or by bus (%). Fewer than % used the railroad or other modes of transportation to access the Lefferts Boulevard station..4 LAND USE While Ozone Park is a residential area, both commercial and residential uses exist on Liberty Avenue adjacent to the station entrances. The buildings along Liberty Avenue are predominately two to four story buildings with retail uses at the ground floor, which include several clothing stores, grocery stores, pet shops and a florist. The Lefferts Branch of the Queens Library is located on Lefferts Boulevard, to the south of Liberty Avenue, which is primarily composed of two- and three-story rowhouses. North of Liberty Avenue, there are two banks and a series of two-story detached houses. RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL /COMMERCIAL OPEN SPACE /PARKS PUBLIC FACILITIES INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION / UTILITY PARKING VACANT This map shows the existing land use conditions for the secondary study area

6 EXISTING CONDITIONS. ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT Adjacent to the station entrances, Liberty Avenue and the blocks to its south are zoned R4 residential, which permits two to three-story rowhouses and small multiple dwellings. On Liberty Avenue from th Street to 8 th Street and rd Street to th Street, there is a C- zoning overlay which permits commercial usage at the ground floors. A C4- zone is mapped on Liberty Avenue between 8 th Street and rd Street, which permits larger-scale commercial development. R- residential zoning exists north of Liberty Avenue, which permits three-story rowhouses and small apartment buildings. There are no Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) applications pending within a quarter mile of the Lefferts Boulevard station at this time.. ORGANIZATIONS AND ON-GOING PROJECTS The Liberty Avenue Merchants Association represents the businesses adjacent to the entrances of the Lefferts Boulevard station. Queens Community Board No. has been active in implementing the recent repairs to the sidewalks on Liberty Avenue. Other transportation issues identified by the Community Board in their Statement of Community District Needs for Fiscal Year include the need for milling of roadways with high crowns, and the mitigation of the visual obstruction of crosswalks at unsignalized intersections by vans and trucks parked at corners. Transit issues raised in the statement include the need for more express buses and other alternatives to driving.

7 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT. PRIMARY STUDY AREA The primary study area focuses on Liberty Avenue and its intersections with Lefferts Avenue and th, th, 7 th, and 8 th Streets. The following section describes existing conditions at the subway entrances; the physical conditions of roadways, crosswalks, and sidewalks; and traffic conditions. In 998, the Lefferts Boulevard station had,,87 turnstile registrations, making it the nd most frequently used station in Queens and the 4 th most frequently used station citywide. This figure represents a slight decrease from 997, when there were,, registrations at this station. Funding has been earmarked for the station to be upgraded to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards between the years and 9. 7

8 EXISTING CONDITIONS. STATION ENTRANCES There are four entrances to the Lefferts Boulevard elevated station. The two eastern entrances are located on the north and south sides of Liberty Avenue, west of Lefferts Boulevard. The two western entrances are located on the north and south sides of Liberty Avenue, west of th Street. While the elevated structure is directly above the roadway, it does not extend over the sidewalk or any of the station entrances. The two entrances at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard are open 4 hours a day. Each is located approximately feet west of the Lefferts Boulevard curb, opening to the east, onto an 8 foot wide sidewalk. The stairwell has a width of six feet, narrowing effective sidewalk width to feet. Observed passenger volumes were heaviest at these entrances, and congestion was observed to be heaviest outside of the southwest entrance, which is adjacent to the Q bus stop and several trash cans. Lefferts Boulevard Entrances The entrances at th Street are open Monday through Friday : AM to 9: PM, and weekends and holidays :4 AM to : PM. During all other hours the entrances are accessible with Metrocards. The entrances are located approximately feet west of the th Street curb, opening to the east towards th Street, onto an 8 foot wide sidewalk. The stairwell has a width of six feet narrowing effective sidewalk width to feet. Large support columns and parking meters are located approximately ten feet in front of each entrance. Observed passenger volumes at these entrances were low to moderate. th Street Entrance 8

9 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT. STREETS ADJACENT TO THE STATION ENTRANCES.. Roadways Liberty Avenue is a major two way east-west thoroughfare that runs from Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn to Farmers Boulevard in Hollis, Queens. Within the study area the roadbed is 44 feet wide, with one foot travel lane and one ten foot parking lane each direction divided by a double yellow line. One hour metered parking is permitted on both sides of the street during the day after 9: AM. Lefferts Boulevard is a two way north-south major thoroughfare that runs from JFK International Airport to Kew Gardens, Queens. Within the study area the roadbed is 4 feet wide, with one travel lane and one parking lane in each direction divided by a double yellow line. Two hour metered parking is permitted on both sides of the street during the day after 9: AM. 8 th Street is a tree lined, foot wide, one way local street that starts at Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens and terminates at North Conduit Avenue in South Ozone Park. There is one southbound travel lane and parking on both sides of the street. One hour metered parking is permitted during the day after 9: AM. 7 th Street is a tree lined, foot wide, one way local street that starts at North Conduit Avenue in South Ozone Park, and terminates at Curzon Road in Kew Gardens. There is one northbound travel lane and parking on both sides of the street. One hour metered parking is permitted during the day after 9: AM. th Street is a tree lined, foot wide, one way local street that starts at runs one way, roughly southbound, from Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens, to North Conduit Avenue in South Ozone Park. There is one southbound travel lane and parking on both sides of the street. Two hour metered parking is permitted during the day after 9: AM. Crosswalk at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard 9

10 EXISTING CONDITIONS.. Sidewalks The sidewalks on Liberty Avenue are 8 feet wide. Columns supporting the elevated structure are located on the sidewalk adjacent to the curb. Adjacent to the property line, there are vaults in front of many of the retail establishments. Effective sidewalk width is compromised by retail displays and by several coin-operated kiddie rides and vending machines. The sidewalks on Lefferts Boulevard range in width from 8 to feet, while sidewalks on the numbered streets that run north-south are typically ten feet wide... Crosswalks A variety of crosswalk and signal treatments exist at the intersections along Liberty Avenue. There are four ladder crosswalks at the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue, ranging in width from 4 to feet. On the northwest and southwest sides of this intersection, trash cans, newsracks and a lamppost are located on the corners adjacent to the crosswalk. Sidewalk at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard At the intersection of 8 th Street and Liberty Avenue there are four crosswalks but no pedestrian signals. Ladder crosswalks traverse Liberty Avenue and standard pedestrian crosswalks traverse 8 th Street. Although there are pedestrian signals on all corners of the intersection of 7 th Street and Liberty Avenue, there are no crosswalks. The intersection of th Street and Liberty Avenue has four ladder crosswalks but no pedestrian signals. Intersection of Liberty Avenue and 7 th Street. While the traffic signals under the elevated are standard three-color signals, the signals that are adjacent to the elevated structure have only red and green signals. One of these red and green signals is located on each of the four corners of the intersection of Liberty Avenue and th Street. Two more are located at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 8 th Streets, on the northeast and southwest corners.

11 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT..4 Lighting The elevated structure blocks out much of the natural light from the roadway of Liberty Avenue. East of Lefferts Boulevard, beyond the elevated structure, the streets are illuminated with standard Cobra Head luminaires affixed to fabricated steel lampposts. Suburban type luminaires mounted on World s Fair type lampposts line the sidewalks adjacent to the elevated structure on Liberty Avenue. Street signs and one way signs are also affixed to many of these lamp posts.. TRAFFIC.. Automobile The main commercial strip in the area, Liberty Avenue is used heavily by delivery trucks. These trucks often double park while loading and unloading merchandise, taking up through traffic lanes and often blocking crosswalks and bus stops. These double parked trucks also come into conflict with buses and cars that are unloading and loading passengers, especially during rush hours. A significant amount of kiss-and-ride activity occurs near the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue. Privately owned cars were observed to be idling in the crosswalks that traverse Liberty Avenue, presumably waiting to pick-up passengers exiting the Lefferts Boulevard station. Double parked livery cabs on Lefferts Boulevard also block the flow of car and bus traffic. ST # # 7 ST AV 8 ST 8 48 LEFFERTS BLVD 8 Total accidents that occurred at an intersection (99-998) ST 4 Liberty Av Total accidents that occurred mid-block (99-998) Liberty Avenue, in the vicinity of the Lefferts Boulevard station, was the site of a significant number of motor vehicle accidents from 99 through 998. The highest number of accidents, 8, occurred at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. There were 48 accidents at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 8 th Street... Bus The Q bus runs north-south along Lefferts Boulevard operates from JFK International Airport to Kew Gardens in Queens. The northbound Q stops in front of a shelter on the east side of Lefferts Boulevard just north of Liberty Avenue. The southbound Q stops in front of a shelter on the west side of Lefferts Boulevard south of Liberty Avenue. Both bus shelters are within very close proximity to the entrances of the elevated station. The Q bus which runs east-west along Liberty Avenue operates from Ozone Park to Jamaica in Queens. Both the eastbound and westbound Q stop in front of the entrances to the elevated station at th Street and again at Lefferts Boulevard. These bus stops do not have shelters, yet are distinctly marked with signage. The extreme proximity of the bus stop on the southwest corner of the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue to the entrance of the elevated contributes to the congestion on this corner. Adjacent to this bus stop, a bus was observed discharging passengers in the central lane, while the bus stop was blocked by an idling car.

12 EXISTING CONDITIONS.. Pedestrian Liberty Avenue is a busy commercial street with pedestrians shopping at all hours of the day. Vendors line both the northern and southern sides of the street and many display merchandise on the sidewalk which constricts pedestrian flow. During the day, boxes, crates and carts from trucks loading into supermarkets and smaller stores create bottlenecks along the sidewalk. On the narrow residential local streets, the sidewalks are generally less congested. There is a significant amount of pedestrian congestion in between the entrance to the elevated station near the southwest corner of the intersection of Liberty and Lefferts Avenues and the nearby Q bus stop. At the corners of this intersection, newsracks and trash cans of various designs are located adjacent to crosswalks and curb cuts. These crosswalks were also observed to be blocked by cars waiting to pick-up passengers from the elevated station. Bicycles were seen chained to poles all along Liberty Avenue. Pedestrian-vehicular accidents around the Lefferts Boulevard Subway station were concentrated around the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, where six pedestrian accidents occurred between 99 and 998. During the same time period, another five pedestrian accidents occurred at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and th Street. # # # ST 7 ST AV 8 ST LEFFERTS BLVD Pedestrian accidents that occurred at an intersection (99-998) ST Liberty Av Pedestrian accidents that occurred mid-block (99-998) Double parking and kiss-and-ride activity outside of the station entrance

13 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT LEFFERTS BOULEVARD APPENDICES APPENDIX : 99 CENSUS DATA Population Data by Age and Census Tract APPENDIX : 99 CENSUS DATA Journey to Work - Workers by place of residence Reverse Journey to Work - Workers by place of employment APPENDIX : ACCIDENT DATA Accidents by Node/s APPENDIX 4: SIGNAL TIMING DATA APPENDIX : INVENTORY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS

14 EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX : 99 CENSUS DATA Population data by age Tract Total - yrs - yrs - yrs 7- yrs -4 yrs -9 yrs 7-74 yrs 7-79 yrs 8-84 yrs 8+ yrs People Percent % 8.% 8.% 7.% 8.9% 8.%.%.9%.8%.9%.8% Lefferts Blvd 4 4 Source: US Bureau of Census, 99, STF 4

15 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT APPENDIX : 99 CENSUS DATA Journey to Work - Workers by place of residence Census Tract Total Percent Car, Truck, or Van % Carpool % Bus or Trolley % Streetcar, Trolley 4.% Subway or Elevated % Railroad % Ferry.% Taxi 4.% Motorcycle 4 4.% Bike.% Walk % Other 4 7.% Work at Home 7 4.% Reverse Journey to Work - Workers by place of employment Census Tract Total Percent Car, Truck, or Van % Carpool % Bus or Trolley % Streetcar, Trolley.% Subway or Elevated % Railroad 7 7.% Ferry.% Taxi % Motorcycle.% Bike.% Walk % Other 7 7.% Work at Home % Source: US Bureau of Census, 99, STF

16 EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX : Accident Data Accidents by node/s Node/s Year yr total yr total yr total yr total yr total yr total yr total yr total yr total Accidents Reportable Fatalities Injuries Pedestrians

17 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT Intersection TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND TH ST LEFFERTS BLVD AND LIBERTY AVE LEFFERTS BLVD AND LIBERTY AVE LEFFERTS BLVD AND LIBERTY AVE LEFFERTS BLVD AND LIBERTY AVE LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND 8TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND 8TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND 8TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN LEFFERTS BLVD AND 8TH ST 8TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE 8TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE 8TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE 8TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN 7TH ST AND 8TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN 7TH ST AND 8TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN 7TH ST AND 8TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN 7TH ST AND 8TH ST 7TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE 7TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE 7TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE 7TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN TH ST AND 7TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN TH ST AND 7TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN TH ST AND 7TH ST LIBERTY AVE BETWEEN TH ST AND 7TH ST TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE TH ST AND LIBERTY AVE Source: New York State DOT Local Accident Surveillance Project 7

18 EXISTING CONDITIONS APPENDIX 4: SIGNAL TIMING DATA Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard INTERSECTION INDICATOR CROSSWALK ORIENTATION TRAFFIC FLOW TIME Hours/Min A Lefferts Blvd along north side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation B Lefferts Blvd along south side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation C Liberty Avenue along west side of Lefferts Blvd Lefferts Blvd 4 Hours Operation D Liberty Avenue along east side of Lefferts Blvd Lefferts Blvd 4 Hours Operation Liberty Avenue and 8th Street INTERSECTION INDICATOR CROSSWALK ORIENTATION TRAFFIC FLOW TIME Hours/Min E 8th street along north side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation F 8th street along south side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation G Liberty Avenue along west side of 8th street 8th Street 4 Hours Operation H Liberty Avenue along east side of 8th street 8th Street 4 Hours Operation Intersection Map: Lefferts Boulevard AV ST ST M O N P 7 ST I K J L 8 ST E G F H LEFFERTS BLVD C A B D LIBERTY AV 8

19 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard GREEN AMBER RED CYCLE TIME Crosswalk Length Crosswalk Width Total Pedestrian (Green and Amber) Adjusted Pedestrian (Green Only) Estimated Required to Cross Street* Preliminary Estimation of feet feet erase Liberty Avenue and 8th Street GREEN AMBER RED CYCLE TIME Crosswalk Length Crosswalk Width Total Pedestrian (Green and Amber) Adjusted Pedestrian (Green Only) Estimated Required to Cross Street* Preliminary Estimation of feet feet

20 EXISTING CONDITIONS Liberty Avenue and 7th Street INTERSECTION INDICATOR CROSSWALK ORIENTATION TRAFFIC FLOW TIME Hours/Min I 7th street along north side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation J 7th street along south side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation K Liberty Avenue along west side of 7th street 7th Street 4 Hours Operation L Liberty Avenue along east side of 7th street 7th Street 4 Hours Operation Liberty Avenue and th Street INTERSECTION INDICATOR CROSSWALK ORIENTATION TRAFFIC FLOW TIME Hours/Min M th street along north side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation N th street along south side of Liberty Avenue Liberty Avenue 4 Hours Operation O Liberty Avenue along west side of th street th Street 4 Hours Operation P Liberty Avenue along east side of th street th Street 4 Hours Operation

21 SUBWAY-SIDEWALK INTERFACE PROJECT Liberty Avenue and 7th Street GREEN AMBER RED CYCLE TIME Crosswalk Length Crosswalk Width Total Pedestrian (Green and Amber) Adjusted Pedestrian (Green Only) Estimated Required to Cross Street* Preliminary Estimation of feet feet.8. No CW No CW * *.8. No CW No CW * * 9.8. No CW No CW * * 9.8. No CW No CW * * Liberty Avenue and th Street GREEN AMBER RED CYCLE TIME Crosswalk Length Crosswalk Width Total Pedestrian (Green and Amber) Adjusted Pedestrian (Green Only) Estimated Required to Cross Street* Preliminary Estimation of feet feet Source: NYC DOT

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