On Friday, May 18th, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer joined parents, children, residents and community leaders to erect the ‘People’s Stop Sign’ at the southeast corner of Fifth Street and 47th Avenue in Long Island City.

The symbolic gesture was directed toward the Transportation Department (DOT) to highlight the potential hazards along Fifth Street and the need for the City to introduce traffic calming measures along the busy Long Island City corridor.

“The traffic along Fifth Street presents numerous hazards for hundreds of pedestrians and young children who cross this street every single day on their way to work and school,” Van Bramer said. “Without stop signs along this heavily trafficked corridor the chances of an accident happening are increasing each day that the Department of Transportation does not take action,” he added. “I hope our efforts to erect our own stop sign are noticed by the Department of Transportation and that they take action on this hazardous issue before it’s too late.”

After numerous parents of young children from local pre-schools and P.S. 78 came forward to Van Bramer's office with other local residents, he contacted DOT about the need to address this situation.

As the local area continues to develop, with new apartment complexes, schools, and various other amenities sprouting throughout the neighborhood, DOT’s street regulations have not kept up with the growing amount of pedestrian traffic, Van Bramer said.

But a DOT representative said the agency is studying traffic calming measures along Fifth Street from 47th to 50th Avenues.

DOT previously evaluated the location for stop signs, but it did not meet federal guidelines for their installation.

The representative added that the city recorded the lowest number of traffic fatalities citywide since record-keeping began, with the fewest ever recorded in Queens.