Additional Input Opportunities on College and Walnut Corridor Study Upcoming

The City of Bloomington Planning and Transportation Department will host two public open house meetings in October to gather feedback on the corridor study of College Avenue and Walnut Street. 

The study, initiated by the City in 2023, examines College Avenue (a southbound one-way) and Walnut Street (a northbound one-way) from State Road 45/46 Bypass to Allen Street. It examines the corridor’s existing areas of success, identifies challenges, and suggests improvements.

“This is about making sure the final product reflects the needs and interests of our community,” said Ryan Robling, Planning Services Manager. “When we consider projects with the potential to transform our city’s built environment on such a large scale, it’s critical that we communicate consistently, listen actively, and engage thoughtfully with the public.”

The City is currently considering two design proposals from project consultant Toole Design Group, selected through a public Request For Information issued in 2022. Both proposals include potential changes to the corridor aimed at improving user safety, enhancing multimodal access, and increasing economic development opportunities. One proposal would leave both streets as one-way, while the other would make both streets two-way. Open house attendees will be asked for their input on the proposals.

The open houses will be structured identically. Members of the public who are unable to share their feedback at one meeting are encouraged to do so at the other. The meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Bloomington City Hall, 401 N. Morton St., in the City Council Chambers.

City staff will also host several pop-up events along the corridor from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 to gather public feedback. Members of the public may also share their input by emailing [email protected] or by completing an online form found on the corridor study’s webpage at https://bton.in/VnxRS. The form will be open from Oct. 28 to Nov. 27. 

About the College and Walnut Corridor Study

As Bloomington’s central north-south transportation corridor, College Avenue and Walnut Street serve as gateways to our community and the front door to hundreds of local businesses and thousands of residents.

The need for the study was identified in the City’s Transportation Plan, which was adopted in 2019. The study focuses on areas with high automobile traffic, where improvements are needed to enhance user safety. Each year, there are several hundred motor vehicle crashes throughout the corridor.

For more information, visit https://bton.in/VnxRS.