"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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B-Line Trail 3-D Animation Video

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B-Line Trail Business Survey

Thank you to all B-Line and Downtown business owners who shared their input regarding future planning for economic development around the B-Line Trail. Our online survey is now closed.

Current Construction

Construction on the B-Line Trail Began this May

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan announced on April 3 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. They will be following 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 will include the construction of the much-anticipated diamond-shaped bridge over Third Street near the Convention Center. Phase I will stop just north of Second Street.

See a map of Phase I of the B-Line Trail (PDF 530.61 KB).

B-Line Trail Progress1 8-4-08 North side 'bumpouts' at street/trail intersections are complete.
B-Line Trail Progress2 8-4-08 The pedestrian walkway on the west side of the 3rd Street bridge has been competely removed.
B-Line Trail Progress3 8-4-08 Construction of accessible ramps and curbs on streets along the B-Line Trail continues through the week of August 15.
B-Line Trail Progress4 8-4-08 Grading and compacting the crushed stone base at Farmers' Market plaza continues in preparation for the installation of paver blocks.

Artist Renderings of the B-Line Trail

B-line 2 Plaza next to WonderLab
B-line 3 Farmers' Market Plaza
B-line 4 Area OneA, the B-Line Trail's commitment to the First Amendment
B-line 5 B-Line Trail along Morton Street
B-line Bridge Signature 'diamond' structure on the pedestrian bridge over 3rd Street

Future Phases 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 .56-mile portion that will include a pedestrian crossing of Second Street and travel south to Grimes Lane.

The City of Bloomington Redevelopment Commission has already approved funds to begin the design process of the Phase II portion of the B-Line Trail. Mayor Mark Kruzan has also reiterated his committment to expediting the building of the trail along its 3.1-mile length. The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, who is managing the trail construction project, hopes to begin building Phase II of the Trail sometime in 2009.

The final portion of the B-Line Trail, Phase III, 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.

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 early summer 2009.

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.

Spotlight News in B-Line Trail

New Funding Moves B-Line Forward As Ceremony Marks Groundbreaking

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Construction for Phase I of the B-Line Trail is set to begin this week, and a late infusion of new state and local funding took center stage at Tuesday morning's groundbreaking ceremony.

Information in B-Line Trail