Model train layout for 1940's Monon Lafayette to Greencastle to Bloomington. The good old days! [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#trains](https://hoosier.social/tags/trains) [https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/the-s-scale-chicago-indianapolis-louisville-layout/](https://www.trains.com/mrr/how-to/track-plan-database/the-s-scale-chicago-indianapolis-louisville-layout/)
Washington Street traffic calming Bloomington's Washington Street is getting some speed humps and some twiddling of the parking. I suggested they might consider a parking-protected bike lane, but I suspect restriping is out-of-scope here. Leave your feedback here: [https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/washington](https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/washington) [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#cycling](https://hoosier.social/tags/cycling)
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@markstos @bloomington_in So I suppose bike route algorithms recommend the bypass generally? I wouldn't. Between the debris thrown up on the path by speeding cars, and just generally the amount of carbon monoxide you suck in, I'll take my ebike quite a bit farther to avoid it.
How cities can use shared micromobility data for transportation planning and policy This study, focused on Bloomington and Washington, D.C, gleaned insights on micromobility from Lime trip data. (Bloomington's response was to summarily throw Lime out on their micromobile ear, for some reason. I do not understand this.) "About a quarter of street segments have bike infrastructure, yet these lanes account for nearly 60% of Lime trips." [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#cycling](https://hoosier.social/tags/cycling) [https://bikeleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/League-of-American-Bicyclists-Mobility-Insights-Competition-2024-Report-3.pdf](https://bikeleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/League-of-American-Bicyclists-Mobility-Insights-Competition-2024-Report-3.pdf)
Advertisements on the outside of city buses? A lot of interest in this article about whether buses should have full-wrapped ads. There's no bus that comes within a mile of my house, so I'm not too concerned one way or the other. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#bus](https://hoosier.social/tags/bus) [https://bsquarebulletin.com/2024/09/19/whose-bus-is-that-bloomington-transit-mulls-ads/](https://bsquarebulletin.com/2024/09/19/whose-bus-is-that-bloomington-transit-mulls-ads/)
Fullerton Pike construction almost complete "This third phase spans 1.25 miles of road construction from Rockport Road to the roundabout on South Rogers Street. Ultimately, it will form a new connection to I-69 in the southwest part of the county." Cost was projected to be about $15 million dollars back in 2019. I wonder how well they kept it under budget? [https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/fullerton-pike-connection-approaches-completion.php](https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/fullerton-pike-connection-approaches-completion.php) [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in)
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@markstos @bloomington_in Maybe because it is high car ownership and car density? 🙂 Past Griffy there is the dog park and the north end of Cascades, so it really finishes out the circuit I think. Also at the 2500 block of Walnut there is an area designated as an "Urban Village Center", so maybe they'll do something with that as well.
N Dunn St Multiuse Path Oh, this will make my commute way easier! A few years from construction though. "This project has been prioritized by the Metropolitan Planning Organization to receive federal funding supporting construction of a multiuse path on North Dunn Street from the Indiana 45 Bypass to East Clover Lane. As funding allows, the project may include additional multiuse path construction north of these limits." [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#MUP](https://hoosier.social/tags/MUP) [https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/northdunnpath](https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/northdunnpath)
A new little farmstand near my house. Drop by! Payment is on the honor system. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in)
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@KrissyKat @bloomington_in Yep, that thread has it right AFAIK. A big area in the middle of campus was fenced off, I need to swing by and see if it's been opened back up now.
Prebys Amphitheatre available again This is a small event space they set up next to the President's house in 2015, but it's been unavailable since Pamela Whitten moved in. No one knows why. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#IndianaUniversity](https://hoosier.social/tags/IndianaUniversity) [https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/prebys-amphitheatre-available-again.php](https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/prebys-amphitheatre-available-again.php)
Indiana Avenue design update Looks like it will be one-way with a two-way protected bike lane. I submitted some comments: "I'm not sure it was a good idea to make concessions to the firefighters and remove the bike lane barriers. Generally less than 5% of all fire runs are actual fires; mostly medical emergencies and false alarms that don't require using a 40-foot truck to respond. They might consider purchasing some smaller vehicles for these runs." [https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/indiana](https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/indiana) [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in)
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@failedLyndonLaRouchite @bloomington_in Listening in on the meeting about this...it has the feeling that they will be going all night 😬 A presentation from a homeowner followed by commission discussion and we're 45 minutes in. There are going to be public comments for hours.
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@failedLyndonLaRouchite @bloomington_in This particular kerfuffle is about tearing down some single-family houses and replacing them with apartment buildings.
YIMBYana Press Release: Opposition to Green Acres Conservation District Proposal "The group is concerned that the proposal will limit new infill housing in Green Acres, a neighborhood close to Indiana University’s campus, thereby increasing housing costs and reducing availability. This could force students and other residents to seek housing further from campus, exacerbating affordability and accessibility issues" [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#Housing](https://hoosier.social/tags/Housing) [#UrbanPlanning](https://hoosier.social/tags/UrbanPlanning) [https://bloomingtonian.com/2024/08/08/yimbyana-press-release-opposition-to-green-acres-conservation-district-proposal/](https://bloomingtonian.com/2024/08/08/yimbyana-press-release-opposition-to-green-acres-conservation-district-proposal/)
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@bloomington_in My recommendation is that they replace LOS all through the document with "Cars Go Fast Level".
For example, SR 45 and Airport Road could say, "Based on the capacity analysis results, the intersection operates at Cars Go Fast Level B during the PM peak hour in 2019"
Officials gathering input on 2050 transportation plan for Bloomington area "The initiative is meant to identify ways in which the area’s transportation system can be improved over the next 25 years and beyond. The BMCMPO will use public input to determine how to best allocate federal transportation funding" [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#UrbanPlannng](https://hoosier.social/tags/UrbanPlannng) [https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/officials-gathering-feedback-on-2050-transportation-plan-for-bloomington-area.php](https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/officials-gathering-feedback-on-2050-transportation-plan-for-bloomington-area.php)
Indana Avenue design suggestions released Either a two-way street with painted bike lanes, or one-way for cars and two-way, semiprotected bike lanes. Not sure I care since the difference is mostly how it's painted, but I'd really like to see Kirkwood and Dunn closed to traffic, and Indiana would have to be two-way to allow for that. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#cycling](https://hoosier.social/tags/cycling) [#bikelanes](https://hoosier.social/tags/bikelanes) [https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/indiana](https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/indiana)
Bloomington 4th on Most Improved Cities for Biking list "In 2023, Bloomington reduced speed limits for all neighborhood streets to 25 miles per hour, contributing to a 17-point increase in its City Ratings score. In recent years, Bloomington also expanded its network of neighborhood greenways and constructed numerous road-adjacent shared-use paths and protected bike lanes like the 7-Line." [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#cycling](https://hoosier.social/tags/cycling) [#UrbanPlanning](https://hoosier.social/tags/UrbanPlanning) [https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/2024s-most-improved-cities-for-biking](https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/2024s-most-improved-cities-for-biking)
Wouldn't it be nice if the process for safety improvements was as simple as the process for street maintenance? Compare them: [http://blog.benfulton.net/2024/06/wouldnt-it-be-nice-if-process-for.html](http://blog.benfulton.net/2024/06/wouldnt-it-be-nice-if-process-for.html) [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#UrbanPlanning](https://hoosier.social/tags/UrbanPlanning)
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@bloomington_in (And this being Bloomington, a couple of people to complain about the Hawthorne Greenway) 🙄
Indiana Avenue redesign So I did go to the Indiana Avenue public meeting, but they didn't have any concrete plans to share. They did have a cool model to play with, though 😀 I'm always there to tell them to build more bike infrastructure, but there's a dull sameness to these meetings. A lot of people on bikes agreeing with me and a few people to complain about losing parking and bikers not stopping for stop signs. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#biketooter](https://hoosier.social/tags/biketooter) [#UrbanPlanning](https://hoosier.social/tags/UrbanPlanning)
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@markstos @bloomington_in The speaker said he'd been in the job for many years, but it was only in the last five or so he really felt that the city was starting to make forward progress.
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@bloomington_in Vote is 5-0 in support with one abstention, the commissioner felt they didn't have enough information to vote.
Quick discussion of merging the traffic, bike/ped, and parking commissions. Will take public commissioners down from 21 people to five.
That's the end! Public meeting on Indiana Avenue tomorrow at Sample Gates. Not sure whether filling out a survey is sufficient public comment or whether I should be talking in all these meetings as well. Toot you tomorrow!
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@bloomington_in (Got pulled away from the computer for a while.) Public comment on Indiana Avenue was mostly positive, one person wanted the project extended all the way to 17th!
Next project is a redo of Countryside and Southern Pines traffic calming. Surveys seem to indicate that residents think cars are still going too fast.
A commissioner asks if anyone was against the project. Coordinator says a few people wanted traffic calming pulled out altogether, but a small minority.
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Now on to Indiana Avenue! Coordinator mentions there have been several incidents on the corridor, but they haven't put together a proposal yet. They will put something together after tomorrow's public meeting. Three separate meetings over the summer to come up with a plan.
Commisioners are asking for crash data (they will make it public next month).
Bike/Ped Commission meeting tonight Zooming into the meeting, mostly to hear about Indiana Avenue. First up, though, is a review of the ADA Transition Plan. Comments seem mostly positive, commissioners are worried about several engineering issues rather than planning. Public Comment: Eric Ost thinks we aren't doing enough due diligence on prioritizing projects. Thinks we spend too much on cycling and not enough on ADA. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in)
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@bloomington_in Rode over to check on the progress of this. It's moving along, with something like 30 yards of trail complete and open for some reason. Looks like the whole piece should be open by the fall though! #trails
Washington and Bloomington Work With Lime on Mobility "The Mobility Insights Competition was designed to select two communities to better understand their biking issues, including equity and safety...Bloomington’s application charted a plan to use shared micromobility data to help with the city’s first Safe Streets for All Action Plan." [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [#UrbanPlanning](https://hoosier.social/tags/UrbanPlanning) [#bikeshare](https://hoosier.social/tags/bikeshare) [https://www.govtech.com/transportation/washington-d-c-bloomington-ind-work-with-lime-on-mobility](https://www.govtech.com/transportation/washington-d-c-bloomington-ind-work-with-lime-on-mobility)
Attorney General Todd Rokita Tells Monroe County to Rescind ‘Sanctuary City’ Policies "Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued a threat to local officials in Monroe County, home to the city of Bloomington, along with several other Indiana localities: rescind “sanctuary city” policies or face legal action starting July 1." Todd Rokita is an awful person. [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [https://bloomingtonian.com/2024/05/31/attorney-general-todd-rokita-tells-monroe-county-to-rescind-sanctuary-city-policies/](https://bloomingtonian.com/2024/05/31/attorney-general-todd-rokita-tells-monroe-county-to-rescind-sanctuary-city-policies/)
Bloomington quietly puts up plans for protected bike lanes on Indiana Avenue [\#cycling](https://hoosier.social/tags/cycling) [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in) [https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/indiana](https://bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/indiana)
Bangkok Thai has some fine hot chiles tonight! 😓🔥🔥🔥 [@bloomington\_in](https://midwest.social/c/bloomington_in)
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@bloomington_in 1PM: A few more cars in the lots, a few more parties going on. A few people have staked out benches at Miller-Showers Park. Lots of IU students outside with glasses in hand.
Wait, those are cups, sorry
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@Bikevisionary @bloomington_in The vast majority are, but district 4 is full of large estates within a few blocks of downtown. It's like a NIMBY breeding ground!
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Whiny rich people ask about preserving privacy when the peasants use the path, and preserving the character.
General meeting adjourns. People can now come up and look at the maps and ask questions one-on-one.
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@bloomington_in Question about closing a lane to cars instead. It was studied but city didn't like it.
Question about native plants in the grass section. More of a homeowner question.
More storm water questions!
Questioner suggests cars will go faster if there are no potholes 😂
Question about putting paths on busy streets instead of side streets.
The whiny rich people whine more.
Question about pedestrian access during construction.
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@bloomington_in Question about the existing path south of Arden. Someone yells Apples and Oranges! Someone else endorses it hugely and is looking forward to the new path. Questioner wants some better visualizations.
Question about preserving the character of the neighborhood. They own several properties 🤨
Another question about making the path narrower. Eight feet is adequate! (Groans from the audience). Was there a pedestrian traffic study? City doesn't do that.
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@bloomington_in Homeowner wants the path to stop before it gets to their house. (Whatevs)
Question about a flasher at Hunter. It's being considered.
Question about budgets. Does it include storm water upgrades? Total just over $5M.
More storm water questions. This seems to be a serious homeowner worry.
Question about narrowing lanes. Will be slightly narrower. Questioner comments that people will have to slow down (Hopefully!) Something about bus passing?
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@bloomington_in Second Street light needs replacing. Some rage about driving being less convenient.
Second to Hunter: raised median to cross High at Hunter.
Question about construction, side street access. Each segment to be about a month. Question about detours. Side streets will be open and repaved.
Question about trees. Many to be removed but policy is to replace them.
Question about connecting at Maxwell instead of Hunter. ( I don't see much gain there). Idea is to get to 3rd Street.
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Ben Fulton
benfulton@ hoosier.socialHoosier born and bred. Research Software Engineer at Indiana University. Follow IU soccer and women's basketball and the Indy Eleven. Biker.