Forest Hills Community Board Backs Up Ask For Austin Street Redesign

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A request to reduce car congestion on the heavily-trafficked Austin Street in Forest Hills got the neighborhood's community board's backing last week.

Queens Community Board 6, which represents Forest Hills and Rego Park residents, voted on a resolution requesting the Department of Transportation study a possible redesign on the street, paving the way for higher pedestrian safety and lower car congestion.

The request sent on Friday asks the city department to study the possibility of making segments of Austin Street completely car-free, including streets between Yellowstone Boulevard and Ascan Avenue.

The car congestion "often leads to cars and trucks blocking crosswalks, bus stops, and intersections," according to the resolution.

DOT would also look at the possibility of widening sidewalks on Austin Street, adding more outdoor seating areas, and making a one-way conversion westbound of the street.

The request comes after a group of Forest Hills residents banded together to create "Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street," which started a petition asking DOT to increase pedestrian space. The petition was later adopted by the community board's transportation, public transit, and street safety committee.

Between January 2018 and November 2022, Austin Street had 71 crashes, with 83 injuries, between Yellowstone Boulevard and Ascan Avenue.