Astoria Boulevard is an important east–west commercial street in
Astoria and
East Elmhurst,
Queens
Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...
,
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. It runs from 1st Street at the
East River
The East River is a saltwater Estuary, tidal estuary or strait in New York City. The waterway, which is not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island, ...
to the
World's Fair Marina on
Flushing Bay, where it merges with
Northern Boulevard. Just before the junction of the two boulevards, there is a large two lane ramp leading to the Whitestone Expressway. Most of the traffic on Astoria Boulevard heads toward this ramp, and then onto the Expressway.
Astoria Boulevard is the southern border of
Astoria Heights, and the northern border of
North Corona.
Description
In East Elmhurst, Astoria Boulevard is a wide six lane, median divided street. However, traffic is usually light on the boulevard, presumably because the boulevard runs parallel to the busier Northern Boulevard and
Grand Central Parkway. During rush hours, though, this road becomes a major artery, serving as an alternate route to the Grand Central Parkway to access the Whitestone Expressway, and as a result, it frequently becomes congested. The efficient synchronization of the traffic lights minimize heavy delays, making this a popular alternate route to take instead of the Grand Central. The portion of Astoria Boulevard between roughly 31st and 78th Streets in
Astoria serves as a
frontage road
A frontage road (also known as an access road, outer road, service road, feeder road, or parallel road) is a local road running parallel to a higher-speed, limited-access road. Where parallel high-speed roads are provided as part of a maj ...
, or service road for the Grand Central Parkway.
Between First and 31st Streets, it is a busy two lane road, with bidirectional traffic. Here most of the traffic is bound for either the Whitestone Expressway or the Grand Central Parkway.
Transportation
Astoria Boulevard is served by the following:
* The
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system in New York City serving the New York City boroughs, boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. It is owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Tr ...
's
BMT Astoria Line has a
station on 31st Street, served by the .
* The
Q19 serves the entire boulevard east of 8th Street (Astoria), or Main Avenue (Flushing). Astoria service is absent from 31st Street to 21st Street.
* The East Elmhurst-bound
Q49 runs from 89th Street to 102nd Street, where it terminates, and Jackson Heights service runs from 31st Avenue to 92nd Street.
* The
M60 SBS runs between Hoyt Avenue and Grand Central Parkway.
* At 82nd Street, the Jackson Heights-bound terminates, then starts Long Island City service, heading to 78th Street.
* The runs between 80th and 82nd Streets.
* The East Elmhurst-bound runs from 83rd Street to 85th Street.
* The East Elmhurst-bound runs from 101st Street to 29th Avenue.
History
The road that was to become Astoria Boulevard was authorized to be laid out in 1835, and was to run from the head of Flushing Bay on the Flushing and Newtown Turnpike to Hallett's Cove, in what is now Astoria. The Astoria and Flushing Turnpike Company was then chartered in 1840 to toll the road, with a small extension. It was still known by this name at least to 1909. However, it was more commonly known as Flushing Avenue up to the 1920s, when it was renamed Astoria Boulevard.
References
Astoria, Queens
East Elmhurst, Queens
Streets in Queens, New York
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