"Mamdani announced the move on Jan. 7, describing 31st Street as one of the most dangerous corridors in Queens. He said the decision to restart the redesign process and comply with a ruling issued by Queens Supreme Court Judge Chereé Buggs represented the "fastest path" to delivering "critical safety upgrades" along the corridor. The Mamdani administration added that the New York City Law Department will also file a notice of appeal of the court's ruling."
"The DOT's plans for a 31st Street redesign included plans to reduce moving lanes and parking lanes by three and five feet, respectively, to make way for 8-foot-wide protected bike lanes on each side of the corridor. Advocates said the plan would significantly improve street safety along the corridor, pointing to two fatalities and 11 serious injuries that took place on 31st Street between 2020 and 2024."
"Buggs, however, sided with a number of local businesses and residents who had filed suit against the city, arguing that plans for a protected bike lane were rushed and presented a hazard for pedestrians and motorists along 31st Street. In her December ruling, she ordered the DOT to halt plans for the street redesign, also ordering the agency to restore the roadway to its original design."
Mayor Zohran Mamdani restarted the process to redesign 31st Street in Astoria one month after a Queens judge ordered the Department of Transportation to halt plans for a protected bike lane. He described 31st Street as one of the most dangerous corridors in Queens and called restarting the redesign and complying with the ruling the fastest path to delivering critical safety upgrades. The New York City Law Department will file a notice of appeal. Mamdani previously supported the Western Queens Street Safety Plan proposing a protected bike lane under the elevated N/W tracks. DOT planned to narrow travel and parking lanes to install 8-foot protected bike lanes on both sides. Advocates cited two fatalities and 11 serious injuries on the corridor between 2020 and 2024. Judge Chereé Buggs sided with local businesses and residents who sued, finding the plans rushed and hazardous, and ordered DOT to halt the redesign and restore the roadway.
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