May 30, 2017

George Paralemos
Assistant Commissioner for Regions 10 and 11
New York State Department of Transportation
Hunters Point Plaza
47-40 21st Street, 8th Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101

Re: Trucks on the Grand Central Parkway in Astoria, Queens

Dear Assistant Commissioner Paralemos:

We write to request that the Grand Central Parkway (GCP) be opened up to all trucks
between the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (RFK) and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) in
Astoria, Queens.

Currently, large trucks are banned from all parkways, including the GCP, meaning that
they must exit at the end of the bridge onto Astoria Boulevard and crowd the streets while
making their way to the BQE entrance. This scenario is replicated in the opposite direction for
trucks navigating their way from the BQE to the RFK Bridge. Residents along Astoria
Boulevard, including those in a local senior center, must tolerate the regular loud, window-
rattling noise caused by these trucks rumbling past along the surface streets. These smaller roads
were not constructed to handle the frequent impact of large trucks and many are now in poor
condition as a result. Traffic on the surface roads is often gridlocked for several blocks due to
truck traffic attempting to navigate local traffic and signals. Children and adults enjoying the
Hoyt Playground are often exposed to fumes from idling trucks that are stuck waiting to get on
the RFK Bridge. The gridlocks block intersections and cross walks forcing pedestrians to walk
into the oncoming traffic in order to cross the street.

Allowing trucks to use the GCP and avoid the local streets would greatly benefit
residents, motorists, and the truck drivers by mitigating the practical, environmental and
economic effects of the daily traffic jams that plague our community. In 2004, Senator Gianaris
passed legislation that successfully opened the GCP to small truck traffic. This change improved
traffic conditions within the existing structure of the roadway. It is our understanding that street-
lowering work needed to accommodate clearance for larger trucks is feasible and would make
travel in and around Astoria safer, faster and more economical.
 We respectfully request the lowering of the roadway to accommodate large trucks on the
GCP. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to continuing to work together to
improve the quality of life for our constituents and all New Yorkers.

Sincerely,

Aravella Simotas Michael Gianaris Costa Constantinides

New York State Assembly New York State Senate New York City Council

CC: Sonia Pichardo, Regional Director