A state plan to overhaul a busy downtown Oak Bluffs intersection drew objections from the town’s select board Tuesday. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation sent a proposed design to add new curbs and crosswalks at the intersection of Lake and Seaview avenues, a bustling spot near the town police station, a bus stop and where vehicles start to line up for the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority terminal. 

The state last week reached out to the town about the idea, saying it was part of a multi-year project to improve pedestrian safety near bus stops. It asked the town, Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Vineyard Transit Authority for input. 

The Oak Bluffs board was less than thrilled with the design. 

In the preliminary proposal, two new curbs would be built at the end of Lake avenue, cutting down the mouth of the road. Larger crosswalks would also be painted across both roads, as well as a larger restriping of the bus lane on Lake avenue. 

“I look at it, and it reminds me of the other DOT project we see up near the hospital, that everyone hates, and people are going to freak out about it,” said select board chair Emma Green-Beach at the board's meeting. 

She saw how it could improve pedestrian safety, but worried it would create traffic jams and potentially make it harder for police to come and go from the adjacent station. 

“I don’t particularly like this,” said Jason Balboni, another select board member. “I think this is going to cause a lot of problems with the buses and the parking and then you lose that left hand turn lane.”

Making a left hand turn at the intersection now can be tough with cars waiting to pick up and drop off passengers for the Steamship Authority. 

“If there’s a boat in and there’s a backup and you can’t turn left, you can’t get by the car or the bus can’t get by there,” Mr. Balboni said. “It’s just not going to work.” 

Deborah Potter, the Oak Bluffs town administrator, suggested that MassDOT take out the extra curbing and landscaping on the right side to allow turning lanes for vehicles turning right or left. 

Ms. Potter planned to write a letter to MassDOT with the board’s concerns, as the state department readies to submit designs in March.