Speed Bumps, Bus Shelter Removal Top CB 11's Transportation Agenda

Community Board 11’s transportation committee made recommendations on four items Monday night, including speed bumps along 36th Avenue and the removal of a bus shelter on Union Turnpike.

Chris Petallides, who sits on the committee, also talked about a request for removing overnight parking restrictions on the west side of Francis Lewis Boulevard and a Clearview Expressway interchange during the board’s monthly meeting Bayside.

The committee’s chairmen, Petallides and Bernard Haber, said they had not recommended a proposal to add speed bumps on 36th Avenue between 218th and 219th Streets and between Bell Boulevard and Corporal Stone Street.

“We concluded that it would not do any good to put speed bumps on those streets,” Petallides said. “When you’re trying to slow down traffic, you’re just transferring the problem to the next street. A truck will just conveniently move over the next street, rather than drive down the street with speed bumps.”

The committee also discussed the removal of a bus shelter on Union Turnpike and Springfield Boulevard.

“It’s obstructing the view and it’s dangerous,” Petallides said. “Instead of removing the whole shelter, it might be wiser to remove the advertisements that are pasted against the glass that obstruct the view. If that works, fine. If not, we’ll remove the shelter.”

As for removing overnight parking restrictions on Francis Lewis Boulevard south of Crocheron Avenue, the committee said the ban had originated when the street had once been used for drag racing.

“We’re suggesting that the city removes the restrictions and the residents are very happy about that,” Petallides said.

And the committee discussed an interchange between the southbound Clearview Expressway and the Long Island Expressway.

“Normally, each direction has its own acceleration lane and ramp,” Petallides said. “This particular interchange is designed differently. Both eastbound and westbound traffic exit at the same spot.”

Haber said the committee had recommended lengthening or widening the deceleration lane at the interchange.