New York City will restart the 31st Street redesign in Astoria after a court ruling, with NYC DOT fast-tracking safety upgrades and filing an appeal.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the Restart 31st Street Redesign in Astoria After Court Ruling. (Pictured) Mamdani joins NYC DOT workers to fix the Williamsburg Bridge bump in Manhattan on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. -Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office |
By Staff Reporter
Queens Voice
January 8, 2025
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) will immediately begin restarting the legally required Major Transportation Project (MTP) process, which the court said had not been fully completed during the project’s initial rollout. City officials emphasized that restarting the process is the fastest available path to completing the safety upgrades, while the New York City Law Department will also file a notice of appeal challenging the court’s decision.
The redesign of 31st Street has been a major focus of transportation safety advocates, local residents, and city officials due to the corridor’s long history of serious crashes, pedestrian injuries, and traffic fatalities.
Why the 31st Street Redesign Matters
31st Street is widely recognized as one of the most dangerous streets in Queens, carrying heavy vehicle traffic while also serving pedestrians, cyclists, and local businesses. According to NYC DOT data, two people have been killed and 190 injured in traffic crashes along the corridor since 2020.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the decision to restart the project reflects both personal experience and public safety urgency.
“I love being in Astoria—walking through it, biking across it, and driving from one end to the other,” Mamdani said. “But when I can, I avoid doing so on 31st Street because it isn’t safe for pedestrians, cyclists, or drivers. Enough is enough. New Yorkers shouldn’t be forced to go out of their way because our roads are too dangerous.”
What the Redesign Includes
The 31st Street redesign was first launched in 2025 as a safety-focused reconfiguration of the roadway. The plan would:
- Preserve one travel lane in each direction
- Install pedestrian safety islands
- Create a more orderly street layout to reduce speeding and conflicts
NYC DOT says similar street redesigns across the city have led to an 18 percent reduction in traffic deaths and serious injuries, making the project a proven approach rather than an experimental one.
Court Ruling and Next Steps
A court ruling issued on December 5 halted the project, citing concerns with how NYC DOT completed the Major Transportation Project review process, which is required under city law for certain large-scale transportation changes.
In response, the Mamdani Administration has chosen a dual-track strategy:
- Restart the MTP process in full compliance with the court’s interpretation of the law.
- File a notice of appeal, preserving the city’s legal position while work continues.
NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said the agency is moving with urgency. “31st Street is one of the most dangerous corridors in Queens, and we must act quickly to make it safer,” Flynn said. “We have a proven, safety-focused design, and it will be implemented as fast as possible. The number of injuries and deaths along this corridor is unacceptable.”
A Broader Focus on Street Safety in Queens
The restart of the 31st Street redesign underscores the administration’s broader commitment to traffic safety, Vision Zero goals, and safer street design in Queens neighborhoods. Officials say the project reflects a growing consensus that road safety improvements save lives and support local communities.
While the legal process continues, city leaders made clear that the goal remains unchanged: delivering safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and residents of Astoria as soon as possible.
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