The Riverplace Boulevard Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project is up for final approval from the Downtown Development Review Board on Thursday.  The project would alter about a half-mile of Riverplace Boulevard from the Main Street Bridge to Prudential Drive on the Southbank to “prioritize access for pedestrians and bicyclists over cars.”

The “road diet” includes slimmer traffic lanes in exchange for protected bike paths, off-street parking, wider sidewalks, built-in bus stops and upgraded landscaping.

The Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) application said the project focuses on “reduced travel lanes, traffic calming, and enhanced landscaping” to make the area safer for Southbank residents. In addition to existing condo and apartment towers, more housing is in development for the area, including Catalyst Development Partners’ proposed San Marco Apartments at 1444 Home St. and the 263-unit riverfront Broadstone River House under construction.

The design renderings presented to the Downtown Investment Authority show three lanes of traffic and off-street parking which would provide a buffer for 5-foot-wide bike paths and 8-foot-wide sidewalks on each side.

Pedestrian areas would feature a mix of concrete and brick sidewalks, wooden platform and concrete bench seating, steel bike racks, cast aluminum trash cans, more trees and green space. One of the biggest changes will be incorporating off-street parking spaces, and built-in bus stops for JTA, as well as highly viable cross walks and signage.