Mayor Mamdani Announces Start of Construction to Complete McGuinness Boulevard Redesign to Improve Safety for All

The redesigned section of the southern portion of McGuinness Boulevard featuring one parking lane, one travel lane and a curbside bike lane in each direction. As part of NYC DOT's upcoming work, it will extend this design to the northern section of the corridor.

McGuinness Boulevard is a critical cycling connection between Brooklyn and Queens and serves more than 4,000 daily riders during the summer months. NYC DOT will install parking-protected bike lanes along the entirety of the corridor to improve safety and reduce deadly speeding.

The redesign will extend the existing parking-protected bike lanes between Meeker Avenue and Calyer Street northbound to the Pulaski Bridge. Once complete, McGuinness Boulevard will feature one travel lane in each direction, one parking-protected bike lane in each direction and one curbside parking and loading lane in each direction.

The redesign will also improve safety benefits for pedestrians and drivers by shortening crossing distances, slowing turning vehicles and reducing reckless driving behavior. Similar street redesigns across the New York City have reduced traffic deaths and serious injuries by 30%.

"I am pleased to finally see the last phase of making McGuinness Boulevard safe become a reality for bike commuters traveling between Brooklyn and Queens and for pedestrians crossing the thoroughfare," said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. "We must keep building on this progress to ensure everyone in the neighborhood has the safe streets they deserve."

"Today's groundbreaking represents a promise delivered," said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher. "For decades, McGuinness has been the site of death and serious injury caused by reckless drivers. Frustration over the inaction of our elected officials is part of what led to my run for office. Our local community here in Greenpoint has fought to make McGuinness safe for decades, and this victory belongs to them. It's a reminder that when we organize, we win and a government that works for the people is possible."

"I am so excited to see work begin on the comprehensive redesign of McGuinness Boulevard," said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. "For years advocates have been fighting to make this corridor safer and prevent more traffic violence. Protected bike lanes, shortened pedestrian crossings and other traffic calming measures make our streets work better for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and families. These changes will save lives. I am grateful to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn for following through on the community's long-standing call for a safer, more connected McGuinness Boulevard. Today's victory would not be possible without the tireless work of community members who fought to make their neighborhood safer. Congratulations to the Make McGuinness Safe coalition, I am proud to work alongside you for a safer North Brooklyn."

"This is a huge win for North Brooklyn and for the advocates who've spent years pushing for a safer McGuinness Boulevard. This kind of infrastructure makes our streets safer for everyone, whether they're walking, biking, or driving," said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. "I'm grateful to DOT for moving this project forward and investing in one of our borough's busiest corridors, and I encourage the agency to continue listening to community advocates whose vision for McGuinness includes not just safer streets, but more welcoming and people-centered public spaces."

"McGuinness has dangerously divided Greenpoint for generations, but thanks to the tremendous organizing of our community, McGuinness will finally be safe for all of us," said Council Member Lincoln Restler. "This redesign has been many years in the making and I'm relieved work is beginning today to complete this urgent street safety project."

"This has been a long time coming for the communities that live, work and travel along McGuinness every day," said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. "For years, people in Greenpoint and Williamsburg raised concerns about safety on this corridor and were too often met with hesitation instead of action. Today is an important step toward making these streets safer and showing that local voices are finally being heard at City Hall."

"We did it! The Greenpoint community has been fighting for this moment for decades. Finally, instead of speeding vehicles and dangerous cut-through traffic on McGuinness, we will see slower speeds, shorter crossing distances and protected bike lanes," said Bronwyn Breitner, Coordinator for Make McGuinness Safe. "Finally, we are seeing government agencies work to heal our divided community and create a more livable North Brooklyn. Mayor Mamdani has delivered on his promise to Make McGuinness Safe. We hope this comprehensive redesign of McGuinness is the first of many transformative street safety projects across New York City under this administration."

"Today, we will finally make McGuinness safe," said Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio and Kate Brockwehl, co-chairs of Families for Safe Streets New York City. "As a mother who lost her son to a traffic crash and a pedestrian who was seriously injured by a driver, we were heartbroken to learn about beloved teacher Matthew Jensen's death on McGuinness Boulevard. This mile-long corridor has terrorized Greenpoint since it was created decades ago, and it's past time the entirety of the street actually served the parents and families crossing it every day. We are incredibly grateful to the Mamdani administration for moving forward with this critical project and other street safety initiatives across the five boroughs, and we'll keep organizing until every New Yorker makes it home safe at the end of the day."

"Today, Greenpoint's years-long demand for safety on McGuinness Boulevard is becoming a reality," said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "After beloved teacher Matthew Jensen was killed crossing this street, families and neighbors stood up for change, against the indifference and corruption of the previous administration, and demanded a redesign that would save lives. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of the Make McGuinness Safe coalition - and the Mamdani administration fulfilling its Day 3 commitment - this street will be safe for everyone and will be a model for the transformation of dangerous roads across the city."

"RPA is pleased to see NYC DOT break ground on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign that will deliver safer streets and a more sustainable transportation network," said Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President, Regional Plan Association. "This segment is one of the most important north-south connections in Brooklyn and into Queens for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and drivers alike. Completing the corridor redesign will improve safety, calm dangerous speeding and create a more connected street for the thousands of New Yorkers who use it every day."

"McGuinness Boulevard has long been one of Brooklyn's most dangerous streets, and we are thrilled to see NYC DOT move forward with the original safety plan for the corridor. This redesign is about much more than bike lanes; it's about reducing speeding, shortening crossing distances for pedestrians, calming dangerous turns, and rethinking curb space so streets work better and more safely for everyone," said Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy and Organizing, Open Plans. "For too long, politics got in the way of proven safety improvements. Returning to the original plan means finally delivering the kind of street design that we know saves lives, reduces reckless driving, and makes neighborhoods safer and more connected. We hope this is just the beginning, and that DOT builds on this momentum by prioritizing a Low Traffic Neighborhood pilot in the surrounding area, especially calmer, safer streets around PS 110, so families and children can get to school without navigating dangerous cut-through traffic."

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