Southeast Queens Infrastructure Upgrades
Many roadways in southeast Queens lack adequate stormwater infrastructure, including catch basins and sewers, which has contributed to chronic flooding in some areas during heavy rain. To combat this issue, Mayor de Blasio has committed $1.7 billion for sewer upgrades in neighborhoods between Jamaica, Glen Oaks, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens.
The bulk of this funding will go towards the construction of large trunk sewer spines along 150th Street, Guy Brewer Boulevard, Farmers Boulevard and Springfield Boulevard. These trunk sewers will be constructed through at least 18 separate projects and will include crossings of the LIRR, Air Train, Belt Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway, Nassau Expressway and Long Island Aqueduct. Dozens of other smaller sewer projects are in the planning stages or already in construction throughout neighborhoods in southeast Queens.
In addition to traditional gray infrastructure projects like these, we are also pursuing projects that include an estimated 200 curbside rain gardens in and around Cambria Heights and Queens Village to intercept stormwater before it ever enters the sewer system. Other improvements for southeast Queens include green infrastructure components at three City parks, two public schools, and one NYCHA facility. Bluebelts are also being constructed to help manage stormwater at Springfield Lake, Baisley Pond, Twin Ponds and Brookville Triangle.