Last Chance To Share Ideas For 21st Street Bus Redesign Project

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Astorians have one more chance to tell the Department of Transportation what they think about a local bus and street-safety project.

On Wednesday Jan. 12th at 6 p.m., the DOT, alongside the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association (OANA), is hosting its final virtual public hearing on the 21st Street bus redesign project.

Last year, based on community input, the DOT issued three redesign options for improving bus routes, as well as pedestrian and bike safety, on a stretch of 21st Street bordered by Queens Plaza North in the south, Hoyt Avenue North in the north, Vernon Boulevard in the east and Crescent street in the west.

The proposals include a short bus lane near the curb for pickups and dropoffs, a full curbside bus lane, or a center running bus lane with islands on 21st Street.

This corridor was chosen for upgrades since it's notoriously dangerous, and is part of a borough-wide bus redesign plan, which is slated for completion this year after delays, the MTA says.

Wednesday's public hearing is another attempt to include Astorians in the redesign, but some members of OANA are still worried that not enough local voices have been heard.

Only 30 people came to the agency's first public hearing about the project, says OANA President Richard Khuzami, who wants to see more neighbors weigh in on the plan before it moves forward.

By contrast, over 680 people — the vast majority of whom live in the neighborhood — answered an OANA survey about the bus lane last year.

All told, 56 percent of survey participants said that they did not think a dedicated bus lane was needed on the street at all, with many citing concerns about parking and congestion.

Those who supported a dedicated bus lane on 21st Avenue mostly backed the DOT's proposal for a center running bus lane with bus stop islands in the middle of the street, which many said would also help make crossing the street easier for pedestrians.

Find out more about the event, and how to join from different streaming platforms, on the OANA website here.