After years of debate, the Department of Transportation is set to move forward with plans to redesign McGuinness Boulevard, a road notorious for safety concerns due to low visibility and heavy traffic. The project, which was announced Wednesday, entails removing one lane of traffic to install parking-protected bicycle lanes.

Work is set to begin this fall, covering the stretch from Calyer Street to Meeker Avenue. The redesign will create one lane for vehicles and one lane for parking in each direction, necessitating the removal of an existing traffic lane.

This design, referred to as "Option B," was proposed before the public in May 2023 but it faced opposition. The city then said they would implement a scaled-back version of the plan but now they are moving forward with option B in its entirety.

The DOT's presentation says the changes are intended to shorten crossing distances, slow down vehicular turns, and discourage cut-through traffic. According to DOT data, McGuinness Boulevard was the site of 229 crashes resulting in injuries between 2015 and 2019.

The exact start date for the project is still unclear.