Transformation of Astoria’s 31st Avenue Into Bike Boulevard

Newly installed planters and granite blocks improve visibility and painted curb extensions along 31st Avenue. Photo Courtesy of NYCDOT

Enhancing Safety With Expanded Pedestrian Space and Bike Connections

Redesign of Popular Open Street Includes Critical New East-West Cycling Route and Intersection Upgrades to Slow Turning Vehicles

Project Also Adds More Than 26,000 Square Feet of New Pedestrian Space to Reduce Crossing Times and Add Public Seating

The completion of the first phase of a transformative redesign to enhance safety and expand space for pedestrians and cyclists along 31st Avenue in Astoria, Queens, was announced.

The innovative street redesign builds on the success of the popular Open Street by prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist safety with a ‘shared street’ design that expands pedestrian space and enhances connections to existing cycling infrastructure on Crescent Street and along the East River. The new street design better reflects that 53 percent of daily trips in Astoria are done on foot, 34 percent are made using a bike, and just 11 percent are completed by car. A new one-way traffic pattern, and a reimagined shared-street design have transformed 31st Avenue into a safer multimodal corridor for all New Yorkers, with more than 26,000 square feet of new pedestrian space added to the street.

Safety Enhancements

A two-way protected bike lane provides a vital east-west cycling connection from Vernon Boulevard to Steinway Street, creating a continuous protected bike route from Astoria to the Queensboro Bridge, has recently doubled the space dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic diversions at intersections reverse the flow of one-way traffic to reduce vehicle volumes, noise, and discourage speeding, while maintaining local access and parking for residents, deliveries and pick-ups and drop-offs. Expanded pedestrian space and painted sidewalk extensions shorten crossing distances while hardened daylighting through granite blocks and planters enhances visibility for all road users.

As NYC DOT continues its record expansion of protected bicycle lanes, the agency has sought ways to make those lanes safer and more comfortable for cyclists and other street users with additional traffic signals. New, smaller bike signals are more visible to cyclists by being located at eye-level at the nearside of corners, where they can be easily spotted before cyclists enter intersections, where most crashes occur. Additional flashing yield signals and stop signs along the corridor encourage all road users to remain alert and follow all traffic laws.

31st Avenue Open Street

In close collaboration with the 31st Ave Open Streets Collective and the Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort), NYC DOT has reimagined a two-block stretch of 31st Avenue from 33rd Street to 35th Street to support the neighborhood’s well-loved Open Street. The shared street design features granite blocks and planters to provide hardened daylighting at intersections while protecting designated pedestrian spaces. Granite blocks throughout the shared streets double as additional seating for pedestrians. This design enables a seamless transition from weekday street operations to weekend Open Street programming during the warmer months.

For more information about programming, operating hours, and support for the 31st Avenue Open Street, visit their website.