Greetings, Juniper Berry Editor,

You will be of great assistance to my neighbors and me if you would publish an article in an upcoming Juniper Berry magazine on an issue that has progressively worsened over the years. Our collective hope is to have the issue addressed and corrected. My neighbors and I live on Eliot Avenue between 69th Street and Fresh Pond Road. Despite regularly reporting our issue since June 2019 to our District Manager, the DOT Commissioner, Asst. DOT Commissioner, local politicians, completing online complaint forms and speaking at a couple of Community Board meetings, we continue to live with a dangerous situation that will eventually result in a catastrophe.

The issue is truck drivers of oversized and 18-wheel trucks continually choosing to shave off a few moments of their journey by taking a shortcut and using Eliot Avenue between 69th Street and Fresh Pond Road as a thoroughfare.  (Incidentally, this stretch of road is not on any truck route map and should only be used for local deliveries or the closest route to the driver’s end destination.) As I mentioned, I have communicated this ongoing issue to anyone who I thought could make a difference and that would listen. There was some effort to address this issue, as the DOT hung two tiny signs that indicate trucks should not make a turn onto Eliot unless for local deliveries.

Clearly, there are no local deliveries for 99.9% of oversized trucks and 18-wheel trucks on this stretch of road. I have personally witnessed truck drivers completely ignoring the sign, which is mounted at their eye level, when they make the turn off 69th Street onto Eliot. Incidentally, signs were never placed at the intersection of Eliot and Fresh Pond Road though one would expect that a truck driver would know better. There were several times where traffic police were stationed along Eliot to monitor the issue and ticket the offenders. The unfortunate thing is that the monitoring is not consistent, so it does not change the behavior of truck drivers, nor does it create a level of accountability. 

What makes this truck driving choice incredibly dangerous is that Eliot narrows between 67th Street and Mount Olivet Crescent. I have heard many truck drivers jam on their brakes once they realize this. They must brake because they drive at a speed well above 25 mph to get up the hill when headed westbound. Once they pass the narrowing, they are driving between the two cemeteries. There’s a sharp bend in the road that is very difficult for truck drivers of these oversized trucks to navigate. I have had the displeasure of being on the opposite side of the road driving home and passed 18-wheel trucks. The truck’s trailer leans toward the opposing traffic. It’s a jackknife situation waiting to happen.

As you can imagine, not only is this issue dangerous, but trying to get help to fix the issue is incredibly frustrating. The DOT points fingers at the police and the police point fingers back to the DOT, so in other words, no one takes responsibility for addressing the issue. I have suggested modifying the camera that is at 69th Street and Eliot so that it picks up the license plates of these oversized trucks and sends a ticket to whoever the car is registered to. This is very similar to a red-light violation ticket process, and it is software that exists. Of course, this recommendation was brushed aside. The bottom line is without regular accountability, this issue will continue to worsen until something catastrophic happens.

I included a few photos that illustrate the issue. I have many of these that I would be happy to share; I also have a video clip that is outrageous but too big to attach.  If I can provide additional insight, I would be happy to. I ask that you contact me via return email, and I would appreciate it if my name is not included in the publication should you choose to write about our issue.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my email and I look forward to hearing back from you.
– Name withheld on request