Bloomington Transit is considering a rapid transit line connecting the city’s east and west sides.
Dubbed the Green Line, the route would provide frequent bus service along a corridor from Ivy Tech in the west to just east of State Road 446 in the east.
It also would include stops at Indiana University, Downtown Bloomington, Hopewell, College Mall, Cook Medical and residential areas on the east side.
John Connell, BT General Manager, said the study will include an analysis of the corridor and the project’s feasibility. He said he’s confident the project is feasible, however.
“In other cities, what we'll see is, they’ll introduce a Bus Rapid Transit line with the hopes of transit-orientated development popping up along the transit corridor,” Connell said. “Bloomington is a little different in the sense that we already have the dense housing along this proposed route.”
The $450,000 study is funded by the city’s Economic Development Local Income Tax. It will consider current ridership needs, destinations within the corridor, priority locations for stations, connections between the corridor and existing transit, cost estimates and ways to improve station accessibility and passenger amenities.
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Rapid transit could mean faster travel with limited stops, increased frequency with additional buses and prioritized bus service with bus priority at intersections and dedicated bus-only lanes.
“It’s considered rapid transit in the sense that the frequency of service will be, at a minimum, every 15 minutes,” Connell said. “In the frequency of services, the big key to it [is] it allows people to get from one side of town to the other in a relatively short period of time.”
Connell said the project would likely include pre-board fare payment options, which would allow passengers to get to their destinations faster.
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BT is also considering enhanced stations with larger raised platforms for easier boarding; real-time arrival and information displays; and enhanced vehicles with multiple doors, larger interiors and on-board amenities.
The project’s cost will be determined by the study. Connell said BT plans to apply for federal funding.
He also said the project could be in development in late 2025 or early 2026 if everything goes according to plan.
BT is collecting feedback online and will host public meetings to be scheduled.
