Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the second phase of the 31st Avenue "bike boulevard" redesign in Astoria, Queens, set to begin later this year.
A bike boulevard is a street design that prioritizes cyclists and pedestrians while maintaining local vehicle access. These corridors are designed to reduce traffic, slow vehicle speeds and create safer, more comfortable routes for riders of all ages.
The second phase of the project proposes a parking-protected, two-way bike lane from Steinway Street to 51st Street, creating a continuous bike boulevard through Astoria from the waterfront at Vernon Boulevard into Woodside. The redesign will increase visibility at intersections, dramatically expand pedestrian space and better organize traffic, improving safety for everyone who uses the corridor.
"At the heart of this administration is a commitment to building a safer city for everyone who calls New York home," said Mayor Mamdani. "Bike boulevards calm our streets, protect pedestrians and cyclists and make clear that public spaces belong to people, not just cars. This next phase of improvements will help knit Astoria and Woodside together with safer, greener and more accessible streets for New Yorkers."
"The redesign of 31st Avenue as a bike boulevard was born out of a need for a safer street that prioritizes community building and safety over speeding and cut-through traffic," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "Phase two expands this successful project with more pedestrian space, shortened crossings and enhanced visibility, and brings a much-needed cycling connection from Woodside, through the heart of Astoria, to the East River."
31st Avenue from Steinway Street to 51st Street is a Vision Zero Priority Area, defined as a geographic zone with a high number of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries. From 2021 to 2025, seven pedestrians and two cyclists were severely injured, and one cyclist was killed along the stretch between Steinway and 51st streets. 67% of trips to local businesses in Astoria are taken on foot or by bike, while only 17% are completed by car.
Connecting Cycling Infrastructure
The proposed expansion will connect to existing cycling infrastructure on Crescent Street and the Queens Waterfront Greenway along the East River, as well as new protected lanes for 51st Street connecting to existing lanes on Northern Boulevard. Together with protected lanes on Broadway and 34th Avenue, the project will create a fully protected east-west corridor between the East River and Jackson Heights.
