The Bloomington City Council has approved the creation of a new Transportation Commission.
The new, nine-person commission will replace the Traffic, Bicycle Pedestrian Safety, and Parking commissions. It will review all transportation-related projects, make recommendations and propose policy changes.
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Councilmember Andy Ruff voted against the change because he believes the Transportation Commission powers will be confusing and could exceed the legal policy-making authority of those former commissions, the mayor and the city council.
“That’s more than just, to me, that’s more than just a recommendation and more than just advisory,” said Ruff.
Councilmember Hopi Stosberg said one commission will help streamline outdated processes, keep the public involved, and help keep a check on transportation policy decisions.
“We don’t want our traffic engineer, who’s only responsible to our mayor, doing whatever on earth they want to do any old time,” said Stosberg.
The Transportation Commission still needs to fill numerous seats.
This is how council members voted:
- Hopi Stosberg – Yes
- Isabel Piedmont-Smith – Yes
- Courtney Daily – Yes
- Sydney Zulich – Yes
- Kate Rosenbarger – Yes
- Isak Asare – Yes
- Andy Ruff – No
- Dave Rollo – No
- Matt Flaherty – Yes