Forest Hills, NY – Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, Senator Joe Addabbo, Council Member Lynn Schulman, and Queens Community Board 6 Chair Heather Beers-Dimitriadis have reached out to New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), calling for the agency to install a new stop light at 72^nd Road and Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills receiving community reports of unencumbered traffic and dangerous pedestrian crossings at the intersection.

In a letter dated February 9, the representatives recognized the stretch of Metropolitan Avenue between Woodhaven Boulevard and Union Turnpike as “the lifeblood for thousands of businesses and families who reside in southern Forest Hills,” and pointed to conditions they believe have led to a hazardous combination of high-volume pedestrian traffic and lack of controls for vehicles.

Despite 9 stop lights already existing along the Forest Hills corridor, the letter indicates that the segment from 72^nd Avenue to Union Turnpike has considerably fewer traffic-monitoring measures, serving as the impetus of the request.

“There is a bevy of traffic controls along this entire stretch, with stop lights sometimes appearing less than one or two blocks apart. Based on what is being reported and what we’ve assessed independently, we think similar measures can and should be extended to the entire corridor,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. “As long as the lights keep in time with one another, impacts on vehicular traffic should be minimal – aside from decreasing speeding and creating safer places for pedestrians to cross.”

“Mobility is a fundamental part of making our city function for everyone, which is why it is important for DOT to take a look at providing safeguards for pedestrians on Metropolitan Avenue,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman.