Bloomington Transit is considering expansion of its service to all urbanized areas of Monroe County.
John Connell, general manager of Bloomington Transit, said countywide expansion has been part of the strategic plan for several years, but a change in state law may accelerate the change.
Senate Enrolled Act 1 made several changes to property tax revenue and local income tax limits. According to Connell, the new law would shift control of local income tax revenue, which transit has received in the past from the city to the county. By 2028, the Monroe County Council would have to pass a special local income tax just to fund Bloomington Transit.
Connell said Bloomington Transit will likely create a resolution in 2027 formally requesting the county create that tax.
“I'm cautiously optimistic that all of our elected officials, whether they represent the city or the county, they recognize the importance of public transportation and the important role we play here in our community,” he said.
If that tax were created, all Monroe County residents would essentially be paying for transit service. Connell said that creates added pressure to expand service, so every resident is getting service for their tax money.
Route 13, established in January, is part of Bloomington Transit’s effort to reach residents outside city limits. The route serves West Vernal Pike over the interstate, Park 48 and Ivy Tech.
If a special tax is passed in 2028, Connell believes it could be an opportunity to partner with Rural Transit, which serves the Ellettsville area. Connecting both services could be a step towards cost savings and increased efficiency, according to Connell.
“When you look at the urbanized area, there's parts of Monroe County that are excluded, and that is what we envision Rural Transit’s role would be,” he said.
Part of Bloomington Transit’s proposed 2026 budget calls for an increase in advertising from $50,000 to $150,000.
Connell said that’s another effort to promote transit services that some people may be unaware of, such as the on-demand B-Link bus, which serves the downtown Bloomington area.
Bloomington Transit is waiting for environmental analysis of land it is considering for a potential expansion. The land has not been made public. Connell said a report on that land is expected within the next week, and if it’s not environmentally viable, the search will look elsewhere.
A final version of Bloomington Transit’s 2026 budget will be presented at the transit board’s Aug. 20 meeting.
