Traffic & Transit
Portion Of 31st Avenue In Astoria Closes To Cars
A stretch of 31st Avenue is now closed to cars during the day, part of an expansion of the city's "Open Streets" program.
ASTORIA, QUEENS — A stretch of Astoria streets is now closed to cars as part of an expansion of the city's Open Streets program.
The quarter-mile stretch of 31st Avenue from 31st Street to 36th Street is now open only to pedestrians and cyclists daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with car traffic limited to emergency vehicles and local deliveries, according to the mayor's office and the city's transportation department.
The closure is being handled by the 31st Ave Open Street Collective.
Find out what's happening in Astoria-Long Island Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It’s OFFICIAL: #Astoria finally has an #OpenStreet! Every day from 8am-8pm folks in the neighborhood will be able to enjoy the outdoors in a safe & socially distanced manner on 31st Ave from 31st-36th Sts. Come check it out! Thx @evie4us @Costa4NY @NYC_DOT for making it happen! pic.twitter.com/AnGwwbZp3N
— macartney (@macartney) July 26, 2020
The city so far has about 70 miles of open streets, though the program has been criticized for falling short of its potential.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the program in April, as the rising number of coronavirus cases prompted demands for more outdoor space, and has committed to opening 100 miles worth of open streets.
Find out what's happening in Astoria-Long Island Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Patch editor Anna Quinn contributed reporting.
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