For decades, the Flushing Avenue underpass has served as a vital artery connecting two sections of Maspeth. It was built in 1960 to offer safe passage for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers beneath the Long Island Rail Road’s Lower Montauk and Bushwick branches and is used by the B57 bus route. It should not be treated as some no-man’s-land as it is an essential corridor used every day by workers and residents.

Yet today, and for decades, this underpass has been a disgrace. It is dirty, neglected, hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists, and frankly embarrassing for a city that claims to prioritize safety and equity.
There are no crosswalks, no pedestrian ramps, and no signage at the major entrances and exits on 55th Street, Rust Street, and 59th Street. Sidewalks are crumbling. Staircases on both sides of the LIRR tracks are chipped, cracked, covered in graffiti, and routinely used as illegal dumping grounds. One fence has been cut open, providing unauthorized access to active rail tracks. Pigeon droppings coat areas under the railroad bridges, and homeless activity is evident amidst the trash.

Pedestrians and people on bikes, e-bikes, and scooters currently share a narrow, decaying sidewalk, which causes predictable and dangerous conflicts. The Department of Sanitation has the stretch on a regular cleaning rotation because of chronic dumping, and NYCDOT paints over graffiti every few months. While the attention is appreciated, it is simply cosmetic; the entire stretch needs a holistic plan to heal what ails it.

The complete absence of basic pedestrian infrastructure sends a clear message to residents: our safety and convenience are not a priority. Parents, seniors, and workers who rely on this route deserve better. It is especially galling that the Department of Transportation previously rejected a Community Board 5 request for pedestrian ramps and crosswalks, deeming them “unnecessary” although pedestrian ramps are required under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The good news is that meaningful improvements are achievable and affordable. In a report entitled “Flushing Avenue Underpass Conditions” which is linked on junipercivic.com, I offered practical recommendations based on direct observation:

• Install clear signage so people know the pedestrian passages exist.
• Repair and secure fences to protect both the public and the rail right-of-way.
• Add pedestrian ramps and crosswalks at each end of the underpass.
• Apply graffiti-resistant coatings or authorize community-approved street art to transform the grim-looking corridor into something residents can take pride in.
• Study converting the overly wide striped area in the roadway into a protected two-way bike lane to separate wheeled traffic from pedestrians.

These changes would dramatically improve safety, reduce dumping by increasing natural surveillance, and make the underpass a functional gateway that feels like it enhances the community rather than the eyesore it is now.

Thankfully, the Community Board 5 Transportation Committee agreed with my analysis and put a formal request in to DOT for a capital project to transform the entire underpass and bring it up to code. The report was also shared with Council Member Phil Wong who will work with DOT to get this condition corrected.

Maspeth is a proud, hardworking neighborhood. It’s time our infrastructure reflected that pride.

Let’s fix the Flushing Avenue underpass. It’s an effort that’s long overdue.