DOT Unveils New 'Downtown Gateway' To Jamaica Center

JAMAICA, QUEENS -- Crowds gathered along Jamaica Center's block of newly widened sidewalks on Friday to celebrate the grand opening of what city officials hope will become a welcoming gateway into the neighborhood's downtown area.

The New York City Department of Transportation joined Queens lawmakers and other local groups to unveil the first piece of downtown Jamaica's $2.5 million redesign - including vastly widened sidewalks, seating and greenery - spanning the block of Parsons Boulevard between Jamaica and Archer avenues.

The Downtown Jamaica Gateway Improvements project was among seven winners awarded a slice of the $10 million Jamaica received last year from the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Much like its name suggests, the project aimed to "transform Jamaica Center into an inviting downtown gateway with a major expansion of pedestrian space and lighting and streetscape improvements," its description states.

The first phase of that project came to life on the block's newly painted sidewalk, which now spans 26 extra feet into the roadway and is marked by extra signage, according to the DOT.

In keeping with the theme of an inviting downtown area, the redesigned streetscape also boasts extra community space with movable tables, chairs and planters.

"In addition to enhancing the pedestrian experience by beautifying the streetscape, this new space will give shoppers and visitors a chance to sit, stay longer and hopefully, support more area businesses," said Greater Jamaica Development Corporation CEO Hope Knight."

The project's final phase will build on those improvements by swapping the painted sidewalks for concrete, adding trees to Jamaica Center and upgrading its lighting, the DOT said.

That particular block of Parsons Avenue was singled out for wider sidewalks because of the unusually high foot traffic and fatal crashes it sees. It's among Queens' corridors with the top 10 percent of serious or fatal crashes and sees more than 1,000 passengers per hour on average, according to the agency.

“Under Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan, last year was the safest ever on the streets of Queens -- helping us bring down the number of Citywide traffic fatalities for the fourth straight year, ” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

“But we need to keep moving forward, and this crash-prone spot in Jamaica...needed our attention."

(Lead image: Children enjoy Jamaica Center's newly revamped streetscape along Parsons Avenue. Photo courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation)