Queens leaders call for major safety improvements to Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights

By Ethan Marshall and Ramy Mahmoud

Several elected officials and community members gathered for a rally calling on the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) to perform safety upgrades on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the southwest corner of Northern Boulevard and 80th Street.

Rallygoers called on the NYC DOT to add a dedicated micro-mobility lane and supportive infrastructure for delivery workers on Northern Boulevard. Such supportive infrastructure would include charging stations, rest areas and dedicated parking and loading zones.

Among those on hand for this rally were New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, New York State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, New York State Assembly District 34 Democratic Nominee Brian Romero and representatives from multiple advocacy organizations, including the Worker’s Justice Project, Open Plans and the Alliance for Paseo Park.

“The city is rethinking bus infrastructure and regulations for e-bikes and mopeds. It’s time for us to prioritize the safety of everyone,” Krishnan said. “New Yorkers are used to cramped subway cars at rush hour and small apartments, but we can’t compromise when it comes to having enough space on our streets to travel safely.”

“In 2020, right here on Northern Boulevard, I launched my Green New Northern Plan – a vision for transforming this corridor into a safer, greener and more people-centered boulevard. Some of that vision is slowly becoming a reality. We fought for and won dedicated bus lanes. This helps buses move riders with greater speed and reliability while reducing pollution and making better use of our street space. But our work cannot stop there. Northern Boulevard is still one of the busiest and most complicated corridors in Queens, and people navigate it every day, especially our deliveristas, cyclists and other micromobility riders. These are infrastructure designed with their safety in mind,” González-Rojas said. “A safer Northern Boulevard means faster deliveries, safer workers, more reliable transit, fewer conflicts and a better environment for our local businesses and restaurants.”

“Northern Boulevard is one of the busiest corridors in our borough. From Long Island City to Jackson Heights to Flushing and beyond, countless cars, buses, cyclists, pedestrians and delivery workers use it every single day, and every single person who navigates this street deserves to not just feel safe, but be safe as they go about their day,” Richards said. “And that’s especially true for deliveristas who use this corridor every day to bring us the food or goods we want.”

“We are calling on the city today to solve something that has been a challenge in recent years. We stand on Northern Boulevard, which has been called the Boulevard of Death, which we believe is the right place for the administration to expand its micromobility infrastructure to create a safe passage for delivery workers away from pedestrians, away from children walking to school,” Alliance for Paseo Park Executive Director Dawn Siff said. “We are here today to call for better safety. This is an opportunity to think more holistically about how we move people safely. Delivery workers are essential to the daily life and economy of Jackson Heights and neighborhoods all across the city. They are our neighbors, and they power this city. We believe they deserve safe infrastructure and amenities like charging stations, rest areas and dedicated parking and loading zones.”