More Hazardous conditions on 5th avenue

These are pics of DEP removing hydrant because it was leaking. Our concern is with the fact that it now stinks like Diesel on the block (did they get it all?) and if hydrant was leaking, why did they back fill yesterday

Over two weeks after a serious Haz Mat situation occurred on 5th avenue in Whitstone Queens. DEP was on scene once again today to replace the Hydrant that was run over by a Tractor Trailer illegally turning onto our residential street. At that time it was reported that after the truck hit the hydrant, he attempted to back out of the street, in effect running the hydrant over twice. IF THIS WAS A PERSON , IT WOULD HAVE INSURED DEATH!!! In his attempt to back out he ruptured his gas tank and spilled approximately 75 - 100 gallons of Diesel fuel on our street, our sewer system, and our soil.


A company apparently hired by the trucking company came yesterday to remove soil and back fill with sand. They left four large rocks that were under ground above ground, around the hydrant? Today DEP had to dig out the Hydrant because it was leaking. Could this have been a danger if one of the homes on the block caught fire? Has this Hydrant been leaking since March 6th, the date of accident? How is it that those digging and back filling yesterday did not notice the leak? Have lives been once again placed in danger by jeopardizing a Fire Hydrant?

Now that DEP dug out the hydrant, the smell of diesel has neighbors crying foul. "Our entire block smells like Diesel", a DEP worker was seen coming out of the hole and overheard complaining "it should never have been back filled , it stinks down there, they need to get more out!".

This is of great concern to us, as you can imagine.

This traffic problem needs to be resolved.






Did this compromise homes , residents, and Firemen if their was a fire?

Did they get all the Diesel?

What about the Diesel that went into the Sewers?

HAZ MAT CONDITION ON 5TH AVENUE

Monday, March 7, 2011
Truck causes Haz Mat situation in Malba

All of the pictures I sent you were taken tonight March 6th, 8PM, as another Tractor Trailer attempted to turn onto our small residential street. This driver struck the hydrant, and ruptured his gas tank as his cab completely jumped the sidewalk spilling Diesel fuel all over the street. According to witnesses he then attempted to back out of the block. What if the hydrant was a person? or worse, a Child? HE ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP? IN ESSENCE RUNNING THE BODY OVER AGAIN?





Now tragedy was averted this time as it was only a hydrant. It did however become a HAZ MAT CONDITION which the Fire Department handled quickly (Albeit a Haz Mat condition of this magnitude should not be occurring on a 24 ft wide residential street, especially when we forewarned them over and over). Our organization has been trying to get our dangerous street converted into a one way westbound in order to avoid such happenings.






Today a Hydrant, tomorrow ? Yet if you ask Maura McCarthy of Queens DOT the traffic on 5 th avenue is not a safety issue, it is just a mere inconvenience. You look at these pictures and tell me, is it an inconvenience or a tragedy waiting to happen? Gene Kelty Community Board 7 chairman claims that his other group, Boosters Beach is against the change as it would be an inconvenience.

This is not the first time a Tractor Trailer has turned on our residential street, along with the scores of box trucks, on top of the 107 cars per hour all day every day (As per DOT traffic survey). For FIFTEEN YEARS the Malba Gardens Civic Association has been fighting to make this street safe for the residents, especially the 18 children under the age of 16 living on the first block of 5th avenue alone.

The Hydrant was destroyed today, LET US NOT ALLOW A FAMILY TO BE DESTROYED TOMORROW.

MAKE 5TH AVENUE A ONE WAY WESTBOUND TOWARD THE BRIDGE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.

SHATTERING RECORDS

FOR THE PAST TWO EVENINGS, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:10 AND 8:30 THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROCESSION OF CARS TRAVELING EAST ON 5TH AVENUE AT A RATE OF A CAR PER SECOND.

YET MY DEAR NEIGHBORS, THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DOT, JUST A MERE INCONVENIENCE.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Francis Lewis Park Playground

As many of you know, yesterdays unofficial twister hit our park pretty hard. The parks department is well aware of the situation and promises to move quickly.

On another note, the MTABT has informed us that they are ready to move the playground to its new location as soon as the Parks Department is ready. We are recommending that everyone call their elected officials and contact the Parks Department (311) in order to expedite the project.

THANK YOU TO: Ray Webb, Manager of the MTABT Whitestone Bridge and his crew for expeditiously removing a fallen tree across the service road of the Whitestone Expressway. This alleviated a traffic mess as well as what could have been a dangerous situation. KUDOS...

The following is a letter Councilman Halloran wrote to D.O.T. regarding our Safety Issue on 5th and 4th avenues. There is much that needs to be done on this issue and we thank the Councilman for acknowledging the fact that this is a Public Safety Issue that needs to be remedied.



THE COUNCIL
O F
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Daniel J. Halloran, III
Council Member, 19th District, Queens







April 29, 2010

Hon. Maura McCarthy
Queens Borough Commissioner
Department of Transportation
120-55 Queens Boulevard – 2nd Floor
Kew Gardens, NY 11424

Commissioner McCarthy,

As you are aware, on April 27, 2010 Community Board 7 voted to table the traffic flow issue on 4th and 5th Avenue. While the issue may have been tabled for now, it is clear to me that the residents of 4th and 5th Avenue still have very valid concerns regarding safety.

I believe at a minimum the following must be done:

1. At the entrances to 4th and 5th Avenue negative truck signage needs to be placed. I have personally observed trucks violating the “No Commercial Vehicle” rules on a regular basis. While it may be Department of Transportation policy not to place negative truck signage, in this situation public safety demands it.

2. Additionally, the speed transition from the Whitestone Expressway, through 4th and 5th Avenue, into a residential neighborhood must be addressed. While I understand placing a stop sign on the exit ramp would cause traffic congestion on the Expressway, I believe the best solution for the time being is to place a stop sign on the service road at 5th avenue. As can be seen on the enclosed map, a stop sign would force vehicles exiting the Expressway to lower their speeds and would reduce the number of high speed vehicles coming from the Expressway and service road onto 4th Avenue.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and working with our community to resolve this public safety issue. Should you have any questions during your review, please do not hesitate to contact me at my District Office at (718)631-6703.

In Liberty,


Dan Halloran
Council Member,
District 19

DJH:mm

CC: Community Board 7