Astoria taxi stand request

Queens Chronicle wrote about Senator Gianaris' request for a taxi stand at 31st Street and Ditmars Boulevard.

After receiving numerous complaints from residents and business owners, state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) has requested a taxi stand be created in the vicinity of 31st Street between Ditmars Boulevard and 23rd Avenue in Astoria.

Gianaris wrote a letter to Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky this month to inform him of congestion caused in the area due to idling cabs. Gianaris wrote that livery cabs often illegally respond to passengers who hail them, block traffic by double parking along the streets and sit in metered spots for hours without paying.

“Even when enforcement agents come to the location, the situation always reverts to the original pattern,” Gianaris wrote. The street is one of the most active in Astoria, occupied by small businesses and traversed by pedestrians and passengers of the elevated N and Q trains.

Read the full article here.