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  • The MTA is replacing its 70-year old sewer pumps along the Queens Blvd IND subway line. Tonight they are digging up the main road of QB at Ascan Av. It is a gargantuan project indeed. Over the last several years, the subway sewers have been backing up during heavy rainstorms causing delayed and cancelled service. Many of the ancient pumps are working at only 25 % capacity, thereby causing tracks, platforms, and steet entranceways to back up and flood severely. This has also been a major cause of the unbearable stench that we encounter day after day. I did notice that this week’s deluge did not result in any flooding at the 75th Av northside entrance. As a matter of fact, the mezzanine level was all but bone-dry. I appreciated that we did not have to cross QB to use the southside entrance that day. We hope that the MTA does not have to dig out the 3 adopted trees sitting on the median adjacent to the work site. They were just recently landscaped. About 15 sewer pumps will be replaced over the next year. The city will then begin resurfacing the entire 7.5 miles of Queens Blvd. Heck it really needs it!

    Posted by Visionary
    on June 14th, 2007 at 12:27 am

  • […] been in the area lately, so perhaps you’ve spotted them. Vis already reports results — no flooding whatsoever after the big rainstorm this past […]

    Posted by Queens Central » Queens subway to no longer be a washout
    on June 16th, 2007 at 1:58 am

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Who’s looking out for Q? (QB, that is)

Posted by Steve on Thursday, May 31st, 2007

qbrg1.jpgHey, Queens Boulevard fans! Did you know our Boulevard of Death has its very own watchdog group that “monitors the city’s handling of safety and maintenance issues”? It’s true! The 3-year-old Queens Boulevard Restoration Group is there to bug The Man about replacing trees and fixing potholes, while all you can do is look forlornly out your window and wish that stupid shrub would grow some leaves already, for God’s sake, it’s almost June. The QBRG has a logo and everything, so you know it’s legit!

Over on the forums, the Group’s “Visionary” enlightens us as to the harsh realities of the Boulevard:

The idea of planting trees in the center would be an excellent one, unfortunately the subway which runs 40 feet below QB uses that center median for ventilation. I’m sure some engineer could devise a plan similar to Park Av and Columbus Circle, but the cost would be astronomical. Strategically placed planters may be an option.

I have worked with my volunteer group over the last 3 years, trying to at least keep it clean and have submitted tree surveys to the NYC Parks Forestry Division which resulted in the planting of nearly 50 trees during this period; 21 were planted in May alone; 20 more are slated for the Fall.

The major delay in planting is due to the backlog of decades-old tree stumps that need to be removed. Did you know it costs $1,200 to plant one tree and $1,000 to remove one stump?

I did not know that, Vis, so thanks, and keep up the good work. Feel free to drop in regularly and let us all know what’s going down.