Bloomington Indiana

Property tax measure would short school funding by $750M

"According to a fiscal impact statement from the Legislative Services Agency, the bill would reduce property tax funding for public schools by three-quarters of a billion dollars over the next three years. Cities, towns and counties would also see big cuts."

Bloomington, in particular, would lose out on $17 million over the next three years, about 10% of expected revenue.

https://inschoolmatters.wordpress.com/2025/04/11/property-tax-measure-would-short-school-funding-by-750m/

@bloomington_in

#Education

Bloomington bike/ped improvements scheduled for this year

* 3rd Street Hawthorne to Rose Protected Bike Lane
* April-July: E. Longview Ave. Neighborhood Greenway
* May-August: Thornton/Arden Dr/Washington Neighborhood Greenway
* North Dunn Street Sidewalk Connection
* Winslow-Rogers median island at Xavier Court
* Crosswalk Improvement (Design)
* West 2nd Street Modernization and Safety Improvements

The first one might be complete? I haven't been by there yet.

@bloomington_in

#cycling

Photo gallery: Hundreds Protest Trump and Musk During “Hands Off” Day of Action in @bloomington_in

https://bloomingtonian.com/2025/04/05/gallery-hundreds-protest-trump-and-musk-during-hands-off-day-of-action-in-bloomington-indiana/?utm%5C_source=ben&utm%5C_medium=mastodon&utm%5C_campaign=gallery-hundreds-protest-trump-and-musk-during-hands-off-day-of-action-in-bloomington-indiana

#USPol #HandsOff

How not to build a bike lane

Stop sign. Go one block. Stop sign. Go one block. Stop sign. Bike lane closed. But good news, there's a sharrow marked in the car lane!

The worst is approaching Dunn Street from the east. You have to avoid eastbound traffic, westbound traffic, and southbound traffic as you try to get out of the bike lane and into the sharroad. Just a total cluster.

@bloomington_in

#BikeTooter #UrbanPlanning

Safety among public’s top concerns for Dunn Street Multiuse Project

"The $3.5-million project, funded by city bonds and federal money, would add a multiuse path along one side of North Dunn Street between the Indiana 45 Bypass and East Clover Lane. That’s the first street into the Blue Ridge neighborhood.

The overall goal is to improve accessibility to the Matlock Heights and Blue Ridge neighborhoods"

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/safety-among-publics-top-concerns-for-dunn-street-multiuse-project.php

@bloomington_in

#cycling #UrbanPlanning

Bloomington Announces Ambitious New Transit Plan: The Monorail

"The sleek, single-rail system promises to reduce congestion, cut commute times, and introduce a futuristic flair to Bloomington’s skyline. Proposed features include onboard announcements narrated by a holographic Hoagy Carmichael and complimentary B-Line binoculars for riders to enjoy breathtaking views of limestone rooftops and urban deer."

https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2025/04/01/6206

@bloomington_in

#AprilFoolsDay

Storms coming through Bloomington

Tornado warning on the south side, but we've got a nice little thunderstorm up north as well. Power is out.

@bloomington_in

New data shows most dangerous streets in Monroe County, Indiana

"There have been 250 pedestrian-vehicle collisions in the reported years, 81 of which have caused serious injury. The most dangerous streets for pedestrians in Monroe County are in downtown Bloomington and Indiana University’s campus."

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/new-data-shows-most-dangerous-streets-in-monroe-county.php

@bloomington_in

#walking

Bloomington 10th Street Safety Improvement survey

The city is considering improvements to 10th Street between Indiana and Walnut. It's a high-speed yet narrow corridor that goes between the north side of Indiana University and downtown, and I'm not sure what you could really do with it without removing at least one car lane. Still, fill out the survey here!

https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/10th

@bloomington_in

#cycling #PublicTransport #UrbanPlanning

Bloomington 7-Line to be ruined by stop signs

"Some cyclists had complained the stop signs would require them to stop at nearly every cross street, which would impede their momentum both up- and downhill. However, some bicyclists also said they were stopping at nearly every cross street anyway, because they always had to worry about inattentive and/or confused motorists failing to yield."

https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2025/03/03/city-of-bloomington-to-reinstall-stop-signs-on-7th-street-bike-lane/80734844007/

@bloomington_in

#bikelanes

"I never thought leopards would eat MY face!" sobs Ellettsville Town Council.

“These other places that are sitting there saying it’s impossible and the sky’s falling, well, the laws are directed towards people like that, not us,” Ellis said.

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/ellettsville-leaders-welcome-opportunity-to-prove-the-town-is-financial-responsible.php

@bloomington_in

#Ellettsville #INLegis

City of Bloomington Launches E-Bike Voucher Program to Expand Sustainable Transportation

The City of Bloomington's Pilot e-Bike Voucher Program provides point-of-purchase e-bike vouchers for of up to $2,000 for qualified low-income residents that can be used towards the purchase of an e-bike at the following local bike shops; Bicycle Garage, Bloomington Bicycles, and Revolution Bike and Bean.

https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2025/02/07/6170

@bloomington_in

#ebikes

Reporter Joe Hren asks: Convention leaders pushing expansion along, but where's the parking?

Easy-Peasy! Provide a great pedestrian area, lots of buses and bike-shares, and we're in like Flynn! Who needs parking?

"Architects presented updated renderings and floor plans at a recent CIB meeting. The refinements help get the project within budget...The expansion amounts to about 61,000 square feet"

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/convention-leaders-pushing-expansion-along-but-wheres-the-parking.php

@bloomington_in

#CarsRuinEverything

Kirkwood Avenue to close for annual Outdoor Dining Program

"Predictable economic stability and improved safety to Kirkwood.

“Students are able to walk through the streets. They’re going across the streets without worrying about cars, Ubers, DoorDash. It brings a sense of order and safety to that area,” said Costello."

My only complaint: "Some residents voiced concern over accessibility issues" but 40% of people with disabilities don't drive anyway.

https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/kirkwood-avenue-to-close-for-annual-outdoor-dining-program.php

@bloomington_in

Bloomington Peace Choir performing at the library for Martin Luther King Jr. Day @bloomington_in

Mr. Hogan Goes To Washington

"So, I picked up the credentials from the ... Inauguration Committee today and asked if there was a schedule. They were very hostile, to be honest, and I thought, “That’s weird.” Then it started leaking that all the ... inauguration activities, even the parade, would be indoors. Even worse, there would only be eight credentialed photographers allowed to photograph it."

https://bloomingtonian.com/2025/01/17/column-locked-out-in-the-cold-in-d-c/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=column-locked-out-in-the-cold-in-d-c

@bloomington_in

Law Lane Pedestrian Safety Audit

"Last year, a pedestrian was struck crossing Law Lane at Fee Lane in Bloomington, Indiana. Was this a one-off accident, or has there been a pattern of crashes at that intersection? Are there changes that could be made to improve pedestrian safety in the area?"

https://mark.stosberg.com/law-lane/

@bloomington_in @markstos

#UrbanPlanning

B Square Bulletin shuts down after five years

This is a real loss for the Bloomington community. The B Square has been the best and often only source of local government news since its beginning. We will miss your great reporting @chronicallydave !

@bloomington_in

https://bsquarebulletin.com/2024/12/20/five-years-one-final-b-square-bulletin-thank-you/

#NewsDesert

Cranberry cider at Lennie's

@bloomington_in

#beer

Apparently Bloomington Transit's Blink service is just a passthru to Uber, except with a much more limited service area

The idea was to provide an on-demand ride service for limited locations where the buses don't run. It's supposed to cost $2, but if I select one of these options, it will tell me that the cost is actually $10 or so, whatever Uber is charging.

@bloomington_in

#transit

Bloomington 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan

The Bloomington‐Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization invites the public to share their input on local transportation projects as part of the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). The MTP will guide improvements to roads, bike paths, public transit, and other transportation systems across Bloomington, Ellettsville, and urbanized Monroe County for the next 25 years.

https://bloomington.in.gov/news/2024/11/19/6103

@bloomington_in #UrbanPlanning

I reported IU blocking sidewalks with their traffic signs

City says they will request IU not do that. We'll see if it does any good. Mostly they've stopped storing gameday traffic cones and gates on the sidewalks so I do have some hope.

@bloomington_in #IndianaUniversity #accessibility

Another new tech park coming to Ellettsville

"A tech park has been proposed in Ellettsville that would include manufacturing, retail, and office space, as well as homes and apartments...would cover about 242 acres north of State Road 46 and south of West Chafin Chapel Road."

This seems like a lot of unnecessary sprawl. And, "A traffic study supports the need for traffic lights and for SR 46 to be expanded to a five-lane road" - Yuck!

@bloomington_in #UrbanPlanning