The Department of Transportation is moving forward with a redesign of a one-mile stretch of McGuinness Boulevard that combines two plans that had initially been proposed to the community.

Protected bike lanes are a part of the redesign, but traffic patterns change at the intersection at Calyer Street, where one design will transition into another.

What You Need To Know

  • The DOT is moving forward with a redesign of a one-mile stretch of McGuinness Boulevard that combines two plans that had initially been proposed

  • Under the new plan, from Calyer Street to the Pulaski Bridge, there will be a bike lane in each direction and two lanes of traffic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Outside of those hours, one traffic lane will become parking

  • From Meeker Avenue right near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Calyer Street, there will be a bike lane in each direction, a parking lane, and one lane of traffic
  • Construction on the project is reportedly expected to begin in early September before the start of school

Under the new plan, from Calyer Street to the Pulaski Bridge, there will be a bike lane in each direction and two lanes of traffic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Outside of those hours, one traffic lane will become parking, as seen in figure A below.

Figure B shows what McGuinness Boulevard will look like from Meeker Avenue right near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Calyer Street: a bike lane in each direction, a parking lane, and one lane of traffic. 

The previous plan included protected bike lanes along the entire stretch, as well as reduced traffic to just one lane in either direction, and drew a big reaction from the community.

The group Keep McGuinness Moving said reducing traffic to just one lane would impact businesses on the stretch. 

Another group called Make McGuinness Safe believes the added protections are needed to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe after three people were killed along McGuinness over the last decade. 

There is still a divide in the community with this new plan. Some are in favor.

“I don’t feel safe,” said Sewryn Dombrowsky, who rides his electric scooter on the sidewalk our of fear. “Drivers here is very crazy after Pulaski Bridge. Believe me, many times people use too much speed.”

Others still think it is a bad idea. 
 
“I am a biker and a driver, so I get both sides. Traffic is already so bad here. One lane is going to make it impossible. It is ridiculous," another Greenpoint resident said. “This needs to be a thoroughfare from Queens to Brooklyn and all these tunnels and highways.” 

Elected officials who represent the area said in a joint statement they believe the new redesign is a step in the right direction.

Construction on the project is reportedly expected to begin in early September, before the start of school.