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"This is the most significant economic development project on the City's agenda. It's monumental in its scope and importance." - Mayor Mark Kruzan

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Construction Bids for Final Leg of B-Line Trail Scheduled for 2/24/10

With substantial assistance from state and federal funding sources, project bidding to complete construction on the remaining 2.41 miles of the B-Line Trail is scheduled for Febrary 24, 2010 through the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The final project phase will extend trail construction from the downtown section (6/10 mile) completed in June 2009. The project includes the trail section from the west side of Rogers Street to the east side of Adams Street (7/10 mile) and from the nroth side of Second Street to the north side of Country Club Drive (1.7 miles) through the City's recently acquired property, known as the McDoel Railroad Switchyard.

The trail will incorporate many of the design features included in Phase I construction, such as street name paver treatments at each crossing, a human/pet drinking fountain, park benches, limestone accents, trees, and landscaping. This final construction phase will also be lighted with energy-efficient LED fixtures. Small plaza areas will be constructed near Seminar Square south of Second Street and at Adams Street. Generous financial support from Bloomington Hospital will result in the provision of several fitness stations along the trail between First Street and Grimes Lane.

The trail will include several at-grade street crossings, and an overpass at Grimes Lane. With a successful bid, construction is anticipated to begin in the spring with completion in the summer of 2011. With completion of the B-Line Trail, three trail systems will be connected: the B-Line, Bloomington Rail Trail and Clear Creek Trail, for a total distance of 7.4 miles.

State, Federal Grants Accelerate Completion of the B-Line Trail

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan announced April 29 that the City of Bloomington has received four grants totaling more than $4 million for construction of the B-Line Trail.

These grants, plus a $950,000 earmark from Congressman Baron Hill, have expedited the trail's construction and City staff anticipates a spring 2011 completion date for the final two phases of the B-Line Trail, from Adams Street south to Rogers Street, and from Second Street south to Country Club Road. The final two phases total about 2.4 miles.

Funding to be used to complete construction of the B-Line include:

For more information about construction of the B-Line Trail, or B-Line Trail grants, contact Dave Williams, Operations and Development Director, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, at (812) 349-3706.

B-Line Trail Design and Construction

Construction on Phase I the B-Line Trail was completed June 26, 2009. Phase II construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2010.

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan announced on April 3, 2008 that a contractor had been selected to begin construction on Phase I of the City's B-Line Trail. Tri-County Builders Co. Inc. of Bedford bid $2,983,675 to construct the first .61-mile part of the B-Line, a bid well below the estimated $3.1 million. Eighty percent of the bid will be covered by grant funds from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Tri-County Builders broke ground on the trail on May 20, 2008. They followed design plans created by consultants Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Cornerstone Planning, and Bruce Carter & Associates.

Phase I of the B-Line Trail is located just west of City Hall and adjacent to the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market, and will extend from Rogers Street south to Second Street. Phase I of the trail includes the diamond-shaped bridge over Third Street near the Convention Center, and ends just north of Second Street.

The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is designing the next phase of the B-Line Trail, from Rogers Street to Adams Street, and from Second Street to Country Club.

See a map of the B-Line Trail corridor.

B-Line Trail Grand Opening Event June 26, 2009

B-Line Trail Ribbon Cutting 6-26-09 (L-R) Jim Murphy, Trent Deckard, Ronita Walcot, Dave Williams, Ron Stanhouse, Mayor Mark Kruzan, Andy Ruff, and Mick Renneisen cut the ceremonial ribbon on the Farmers' Market Plaza to officially open the B-Line Trail June 26, 2009.
B-Line Trail Grand Opening Event An estimated 250 people braved the 90°+ temperatures to mark the official opening of the B-Line Trail.
Music on the B-Line Trail Musical and artistic performances, including live music by Fiddle 'n' Feet, entertained Trail enthusiasts who attended the B-Line Trail grand opening.
REALTOR Plaza on the B-Line Trail The Bloomington Board of REALTORS and Bloomington Convention Center hosted a reception on the REALTOR Plaza during the B-Line Trail grand opening festivities.

Artist Renderings of Phase II of the B-Line Trail

B-Line Trail Phase II Artist Rendering First Street Looking south from First Street, with Morton Street on the right.
B-Line Trail Phase II Artist Rendering Seminary Looking south at a pedestrian gathering area on the west side of Seminary Square
B-Line Trail Phase II Artist Rendering Fairview Looking northwest from the railroad overpass, just west of Fairview Street

Phase II of the B-Line Trail

The B-Line Trail will be constructed on the former CSX rail corridor, which stretches 3.1 miles from Adams Street south to Country Club Road. The CSX corridor, plus two small parcels of railroad property near Grimes Lane, were purchased by the City of Bloomington in December 2005 for $3.225 million.

Phase II of the B-Line Trail includes two pieces: a .65-mile portion that will begin on Rogers Street where Phase I construction begins, north to Adams Street; and a 1.76-mile portion that will include a pedestrian crossing of Second Street and travel south to Country Club Road.

A portion of the B-Line Trail will extend from Grimes Lane south through the former CSX switchyard property to its terminus at Country Club Road. The City is currently negotiating with CSX for the purchase of the 28-acre switchyard property to be used in the future as a community park. The City already owns the corridor where the trail will be constructed.

B-Line Signature Artwork

Bloomington Banquet The City announced on August 13, 2008 that a limestone sculpture by local artist Dale Enochs was selected as the signature artwork piece for the B-Line Trail.

Read the news release: City of Bloomington Announces Selection of B-Line Trail Signature Artwork

Titled "Bloomington Banquet", the sculpture features a table and chairs made of Indiana limestone with place settings of steel and aluminum. In all it will be 23 feet at its highest point.

Enochs has worked in Bloomington as an artist, primarily in limestone, for over 25 years. He received his MFA from Indiana University in 1981 and his work is held in international as well as U.S. collections.

"Bloomington Banquet" was chosen by a five-member selection panel from three final proposals in a process administered by the City of Bloomington Community Arts Commission. The Percentage for the Arts-funded project is expected to cost $50,000 and is scheduled for installation in August 2009.

Other artwork on the B-Line Trail includes:

Other scheduled artwork includes the Orrego Building Mural, a sculpture by Cem Basman between Eighth and Rogers Streets, and art improvements to the east side of Le Petit Café.

For more information about the B-Line Signature Artwork, or the BEAD Character Areas, contact Miah Michaelsen at 349-3534.

Questions or comments about the City's new B-Line Trail? Contact Dave Williams, Director of Operations and Development, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation, at (812) 349-3706.

Spotlight Webpages in B-Line Trail

Read notes from bi-weekly B-Line progress meetings.

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Notes from a series of public meetings held every two weeks to update the public on the progress of B-Line Trail construction.

Information in B-Line Trail