Bloomington Transit’s new Route 13 will transport residents to previously unserved parts of the community starting January 2. The route will serve West Vernal Pike over the interstate, Park 48 and Ivy Tech Community College.
Christopher Emge, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, has worked on the new route for several years with elected officials, Bloomington Transit, and the community.
“Why it’s taken this long is anybody’s guess,” Emge said. “It just took some gumption from a few people to lead it. Some elected officials that took this by the horn.”
Emge said Route 13 will be vital for people needing to access areas such as Ivy Tech and Park 48, since it is a bustling area for employment and education. Emge also hopes to see more frequent stops added to the route in the future.
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“You know, you can have these routes, but you have to make sure it’s accessible to the individuals who would be riding it," Emge said. “So, that’s where I mean by there’s more work to do.”
Emge also said more projects are being discussed and planned, including the creation of an express line from Third Street through Park 48, with fewer stops.
According to Bloomington Transit, Route 13 will operate Monday through Friday with one trip per hour. The first trip of each weekday will depart from the Downtown Transit Center at 6:40 a.m. and the last trip will return at 6:30 p.m. There will be 12 trips per day.
