LONG ISLAND CITY — First Times Square...now Queens Plaza.
Amid growing tourism in Long Island City and other neighborhoods around the city, the Department of Transportation rolled out a set of wayfinding maps to help visitors and lost locals navigate the areas' museums and landmarks, sources said.
Mock-ups of the signs — part of a city-wide initiative to make the Big Apple's neighborhoods more accessible to pedestrians — were unveiled in Queens Plaza and Court Square starting Monday and passersby will be asked to give their feedback.
Long Island City is one of four neighborhoods around the city in which the program, reportedly costing up to $9.5 million and announced last year, will be tested. Wayfinding signage will also be unveiled in Prospect Heights/Crown Heights in Brooklyn and Chinatown and parts of Midtown in Manhattan.
The program is coming to Long Island City in the wake of a boom in hotel building and the relocation of several corporate headquarters to the area.
The signs will list points of interest and cultural attractions in the area, like the waterfront, Gantry Plaza State Park and a host of museums and galleries, giving pedestrians suggestions how to get from one point to another and estimating how long it will take to get there.
Gayle Baron, the president of Long Island City Partnership, said that Long Island City has undergone a transformation in recent years, including the addition of new galleries and theaters as well as an influx of businesses.
“The neighborhood is home to thousands of additional residents, 19 new hotels, and expanded restaurant and retail offerings," she said. "It is an ideal time to help residents, visitors and employees navigate our often confusing street grid through improved pedestrian signage.”
It’s not certain when the signage will be permanently placed in the area. Eventually, there will be about 20 wayfinding signs in Long Island City.
The DOT did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.
Pedestrians can see mock-ups of the signs and complete a survey at locations listed below:
1 Court Square, Jackson Avenue near 44th Drive
Tuesday, July 31 – 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 2 – 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Queens Plaza North at 27th Street
Monday, July 30 – 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 2 – 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
