City plans safety overhaul for dangerous stretch of Linden Boulevard in East New York
At roughly 140 feet wide from curb to curb, parts of Linden Boulevard require pedestrians to cross up to 10 lanes of traffic.
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A busy stretch of Linden Boulevard in East New York could soon see major safety upgrades, as the city moves forward with a redesign.
The proposed changes target Linden Boulevard between Fountain Avenue and Conduit Avenue.
According to the city, 443 people were injured in crashes along that stretch between 2021 and 2025, including 15 severe injuries and one fatality.
Transportation advocates say the roadway’s design is a key problem.
“Linden Boulevard is a boulevard of death here in New York City. It is incredibly dangerous,” said Alexa Sledge of Transportation Alternatives.
At roughly 140 feet wide from curb to curb, parts of Linden Boulevard require pedestrians to cross up to 10 lanes of traffic.
The city’s plan includes adding eight concrete pedestrian islands that will serve as bus boarding areas and shorten crossing distances.
Some crossings are currently up to five blocks apart. Officials plan to install new traffic signals and crosswalks at Pine Street and Emerald Street.
“It’s just terrible over here… a lot of little kids go to school by themselves,” said a nearby resident. “So it would be convenient.”
The redesign will also add dedicated bus-only lanes to improve transit flow. Most bus routes will remain unchanged, except for a small portion of the B14.
Advocates say they’re pleased with the plan, but they argue it does not go far enough. They are calling on the city to expand safety improvements along a larger portion of Linden Boulevard, including intersections at Rockaway Parkway and Rockaway Avenue, where 4-year-old Zachariah Padilla and 38-year-old Joseph Bellino were killed in separate hit-and-runs.
“This plan, while fantastic, is only a mile long,” Sledge said. “We’re looking for corridor-wide changes to really make Linden Boulevard safe for every single person.”
City officials say construction is expected to begin at the end of the summer, with the redesign set to be completed in 2027.
