Quinn, Sadik-Khan Visit Barnett Ave., Sunnyside

Photo William Alatriste City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik- Khan and Councilmember Eric Gioia tour Barnett Avenue in Sunnyside to see how the City can make the area safer for pedestrians.

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan on Thursday, March 6 examined traffic conditions along Barnett Avenue in Sunnyside to see how the city can make the area safer for pedestrians.

Quinn originally toured the area in September during a visit with community leaders. During that visit, residents expressed longstanding concerns about the need for sidewalk space and adequate street lighting, factors that have contributed to the challenging traffic conditions in the area. An increase in the neighborhood's population and the emergence of a thriving commercial district has made the need for a safer pedestrian corridor increasingly urgent.

"This stretch of Barnett Avenue is unsightly and unsafe," City Councilmember Eric Gioia said. "I am glad the city is taking action, cleaning up the area and making it part of the community again."

"As a lifetime resident of Phipps Garden Apartments, I have watched the dramatic growth of both traffic and garbage dumping on Barnett Avenue," Gerry Perrin, Co-President of the Phipps Sunnyside Tenants Association, said. "This narrow and curving stretch of road has no lights or stop signs, no sidewalks and poor lighting. The high-speed traffic has become a serious concern for the many pedestrians who traverse this road. I am very glad that Speaker Quinn and Commissioner Sadik-Khan are taking action now, before something happens."

"As locally elected officials, it's our job to listen to people's concerns and deliver results that will improve their day to day lives," said Quinn. "Neighborhoods all over our city are growing and expanding, and we need to make sure that the infrastructure both keeps pace with population growth and ensures residents' safety. I want to thank Commissioner Sadik-Khan for joining me today in Sunnyside and I look forward to seeing what kind of improvements we can make along Barnett Avenue."

"New York City's streets are safer than they've ever been, and DOT's engineers work each day to make them better," Sadik-Khan said. "Our plans in the Barnett Avenue area will complement our Safe Streets for Seniors initiative in Sunnyside, which will make additional improvements to reduce vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian safety."

"Many efforts in the past several years have tried to improve the conditions currently existing on Barnett Avenue in Sunnyside, especially with the increased traffic," Peter Coyne of the Sunnyside Park Association said. "The Sunnyside Community is very grateful for the current focus and attention that Speaker Christine Quinn and Commissioner Sadik-Khan have given to these conditions and we look forward to a long term solution that will provide an appropriate and safe thoroughfare for our community and Sunnyside Gardens Park."