Is A Car Ban Coming To Forest Hills' Austin Street? It's Complicated

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A potential Austin Street revamp spurred a war of words between local business owners who argue the plan will wreak financial havoc on the neighborhood and the local community board who says it has the potential to save lives.

You guessed it, the hot button topic is cars.

Community Board 6 responded Tuesday to a Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce petition to stop what they call an imminent "car ban" on Austin Street they say would harm local businesses by making it impossible for shoppers to park.

"Pedestrianizing means NO Cars," the group writes in their online petition. "It is as clear as can be that the businesses need parking...How can we let this happen?"

In its response, the Queens Community Board challenged the accuracy of the group's characterization of the plans and rebutted several key points about equity, congestion, parking and the meaning of pedestrianization.

"Does pedestrianization mean NO Cars?" the statement asks itself. "Not necessarily."

Who got it right? There's only ever one answer when it comes to New York City's streets: It's complicated.

“That petition includes an introduction that cites several items that are not wholly factual,” reads the statement by the community board representing Forest Hills and Rego Park residents.

The community board passed a resolution last month asking the Department of Transportation to study a possible redesign on the street, paving the way for higher pedestrian safety and lower car congestion.

The resolution also asks DOT to study the possibility of widening sidewalks on Austin Street, creating more safe crossings for pedestrians, and making a one-way conversion westbound of the street.

As of Tuesday, DOT had not responded to the resolution.

"When we hear from the DOT, then the discussion for or against can begin," Frank Gulluscio, the community board's district manager, told Patch.

The Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce rapidly expressed opposition against the possible street closures and pedestrianization, claiming less traffic and reduced parking, replaced with more outdoor seating, would hurt businesses on Austin Street.

The business conglomerate started an online petition, which the community board responded to on Tuesday.

The petition bashed the resolution for not considering a diverse group of business owners along Austin Street as “equitable” when striving for equity on Austin Street.

“When we talk about equity in respect to transportation and public space, we mean spatial equity,” said representatives from the community board. “How public space is shared and used by different communities. In this case the communities are pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and passengers. How public space is used, allocated, and shared matters.”

The group also reiterated that congestion continues to grow despite several interventions to reduce it. “At key points during the day the congestion is simply untenable.”

The resolution sent to DOT requests the agency to study the possibility of pedestrianizing segments of Austin Street, including streets between Yellowstone Boulevard and Ascan Avenue.

The Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce claimed deliveries are also made “quickly” on Austin Street, but loading zones installed in 2018 “have not been enforced and those spots are taken over by personal vehicles,” according to the community board, causing delivery drivers to block traffic.