View source for Ditmars Boulevard

{{short description|Boulevard in Queens, New York}}
{{Attached KML|display=title}}
{{Infobox street
| name                    = Ditmars Boulevard
| marker_image            =
| native_name             =
| native_name_lang        =
| alternate_name          =
| image                   = 
| image_size              = 300px
| image_alt               = 
| caption                 = 
| image_map               = {{maplink-road}}
| map_type                =
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| other_name              = 
| former_names            = Ditmars Avenue
| part_of                 = 
| namesake                = Ditmars family
| type                    =
| owner                   = [[Government of New York City|City of New York]]
| maint                   = [[NYCDOT]]
| length_mi               = 3.9
| length_ref              = <ref name=google>{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.7825347,-73.9197427/40.7598962,-73.859247/@40.7712184,-73.9070514,14z/am=t/data=!4m21!4m20!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-73.9121846!2d40.7771842!3s0x89c25f67820ec823:0x959175cc106476e7!3m4!1m2!1d-73.9024745!2d40.7703215!3s0x89c25f6e4de7ca1f:0x217956990b9c7229!3m4!1m2!1d-73.882511!2d40.7682348!3s0x89c25f9b6e10e359:0xd9919acc56cb4830!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0 |access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref>
| length_notes            =Split into two segments bisected by the [[Grand Central Parkway]]
| width                   =
| area                    =
| addresses               =
| location                = [[Queens]]
| arrondissement          =
| quarter                 =
| postal_code             = 11105, 11369, 11370
| metro                   = [[Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard (BMT Astoria Line)|Astoria–Ditmars]] {{NYCS Astoria|time=bullets}}
| coordinates             =
| direction_a             = West
| terminus_a              = Shore Boulevard in [[Ditmars, Queens|Ditmars]]
| direction_b             = East
| terminus_b              = [[Astoria Boulevard]]&nbsp;/ 111th Street in East Elmhurst
| junction                = {{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Grand Central}} in [[East Elmhurst, Queens|East Elmhurst]]
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| south                   = 
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| inauguration_date       = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
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| website                 = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

'''Ditmars Boulevard''', originally known as '''Ditmars Avenue''', is a street located in northwest [[Queens]], [[New York City]]. It is divided into two segments; one travels through the neighborhood of [[Ditmars, Queens|Ditmars]], located within [[Astoria, Queens|Astoria]], and the other acts as a service road for the [[Grand Central Parkway]] near [[LaGuardia Airport]] in [[East Elmhurst, Queens|East Elmhurst]].

==Route description==
Ditmars Boulevard begins at an intersection with Shore Boulevard in [[Astoria, Queens|Astoria]] on the banks of the [[East River]], just north of [[Astoria Park]]. The road continues to the east until it reaches the western edge of [[LaGuardia Airport]], terminating at an intersection with 81st Street, north of Bowery Bay Boulevard and near [[Marine Air Terminal]].<ref name=google/>

Southeast of this intersection, on the other side of the [[Grand Central Parkway]], the road begins again, as a continuation of a short segment of 86th Street (which itself begins at 23rd Avenue) in [[East Elmhurst, Queens|East Elmhurst]]. This segment is one-way eastbound, merging with the eastbound exit ramp of exit 6 on the Grand Central, which serves 94th Street. At 94th Street, a main arterial which provides access to and from the airport, the road becomes two-way. It provides an eastbound entrance ramp, and shortly intersects a [[traffic circle]] with 23rd Avenue that also provides an alternate entrance to the airport (closer to terminals C and D). Now taking a more southern direction, Ditmars continues east along the Grand Central and merges with an exit 8 offramp. Shortly after, Ditmars terminates at an intersection with [[Astoria Boulevard]], continuing south as 111th Street for one more block before terminating at [[Northern Boulevard]] ([[NY 25A]]).<ref name=google/>

==History==
The earliest Ditmars ancestor was Jan Jansen Ditmarsen (John the Son of John from Ditmars) who immigrated to America from Holstein in Germany. The first Ditmars settled in Dutch Kills about 1647. Ditmars Boulevard and the East River was the site of Dr. Dow Ditmars' home. The doctor, who died in 1860 at age 90, was held in high esteem by the community. A son, Abram Ditmars, later became the first Mayor of Long Island City in 1870.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astorialic.org/topics/names_p.php |title=History Topics |work=Greater Astoria Historical Society |accessdate=2010-02-11}}</ref> Later, [[Steinway and Sons]], the piano manufacturer, had a final assembly factory on Ditmars Boulevard until the 1960s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Then & Now; Steinway & Sons Factory |first=Emily |last=Gest |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/07/20/1997-07-20_then__amp__now_steinway__amp.html |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=1997-07-20 |accessdate=2010-02-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604184531/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/07/20/1997-07-20_then__amp__now_steinway__amp.html |archivedate=2011-06-04 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Ditmars Boulevard is served by the following:
* The [[Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard station]] is the last stop on the [[New York City Subway]]'s [[BMT Astoria Line]], served by the {{NYCS trains|Astoria}}. The approach to the [[Hell Gate Bridge]] is on a masonry viaduct over that station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Station:_Ditmars_Boulevard_(Astoria_Line) |title=BMT Astoria Line: Ditmars Boulevard |work=nycsubway.org |accessdate=2010-02-11}}</ref> 
* [[MTA Bus]]'s [[Q69 (New York City bus)|Q69]] route runs on the western half of Ditmars Boulevard east of 21st Street. Service to Long Island City originates at 78th Street. 
* [[New York City Bus]]'s [[Q48 (New York City bus)|Q48]] route operates along the eastern half of the corridor between 102nd Street and 31st Drive, with service to [[Flushing–Main Street station (IRT Flushing Line)|Flushing–Main Street]] and back via 108th Street.<ref>{{cite NYC bus map|Q}}</ref>
**Despite [[LaGuardia Airport]] listed as a terminal, the Q48 moves on to serve western Ditmars from Marine Terminal Road to its eastern end, then heads to its official terminus on the eastern half at 102nd Street, via 23rd Avenue. 
* Additional service to/from 102nd Street is provided by the {{NYC bus link|Q23}} west of 29th Avenue.
* Additional service east of Marine Terminal Road is provided by the Upper West Side-bound {{NYC bus link|M60}} and the {{NYC bus link|Q47}} in both directions.
* The Jackson Heights-bound {{NYC bus link|Q33}} runs from 95th Street to 94th Street.

==In popular culture==
The boulevard is the location of Brett Weir's apartment in ''[[Jerky Boys: The Movie]]'', as a symbol for moving up in the city.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE0D81139F93BA25751C0A960958260  Where the Piano Meets the Bouzouki] – ''The New York Times'' February 18, 1996
* [http://forgotten-ny.com/2009/07/life-on-ditmars-northern-astorias-main-street/ Life on Ditmars] and [http://forgotten-ny.com/?p=11227&preview=true Part 2] – Forgotten NY
* [http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/queens/astoria/ditmars/index.htm A Walk Down Ditmars Boulevard] – Bridge and Tunnel Club

{{Queens Streets}}
[[Category:Streets in Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Astoria, Queens]]
[[Category:East Elmhurst, Queens]]