The Bloomington-Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMCMPO) hosted a public hearing Monday night on federal funding requests from the local public transit entities.
In order to keep all of the requests from different bodies together, the BMCMPO packages it all into its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
City senior transportation planner Pat Martin said recipients for the 2022-26 TIP will be Bloomington Transit, Rural Transit, Monroe County and the City of Bloomington. Nearly $19 million will be awarded during that period, all of which must be spent year-by-year.
DOWNLOAD HERE: Draft of the 2022-26 TIP
"We have no prior year rollover of funds. In other words, once we program the funds in a given year, those must be spent in that given year," said Martin.
Federal money is only to be used on previously approved projects in both the county and city, which includes various road improvements and modifications to bus stops.
"This would include shelters, curbs, accessibility improvements and sidewalks," said Martin. "Whatever is needed to make sure that those stops are fully accessible for any passengers."
Each body submitted applications in April, and its now up to the BMCMPO to go over its final reviews and recommendations.
In early September, the TIP will be sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) for final approval. The funds are expected to be granted sometime in October.
