Bloomington, Indiana – A 4.2-mile stretch through Bloomington is moving closer to a major long-term rethink, but the next step is about planning, not pavement.
The city’s College and Walnut Corridor Study will go before the Bloomington Transportation Commission on Nov. 16, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., beginning a formal public review that could shape how College Avenue and Walnut Street change over the coming decades.
The study covers the corridor from the SR 45/46 Bypass to Allen Street. City planners are examining whether the current roadway design still matches Bloomington’s transportation needs, particularly as safety concerns remain significant.
Between 2018 and 2022, three fatal crashes and 34 serious-injury crashes occurred within the study area. Speed data also showed that drivers exceeded posted limits at more than half of 14 monitored locations, specifically, at 11 sites.
At the same time, historical traffic patterns have shifted dramatically. Bloomington’s population has grown 44% since the 1970s, while vehicle traffic on College and Walnut has fallen 31%. City staff say those figures raise questions about whether the existing multi-lane highway-style layout still reflects how the corridor is actually being used.
Two major concepts are under consideration. One would keep the streets operating primarily as a reconfigured one-way pair. The other would restore two-way traffic. Both concepts include continuous pedestrian facilities, an urban trail and intersection safety improvements.
Planning and Transportation staff are recommending that the two-way concept be incorporated into the city’s Transportation Plan.
That recommendation does not mean construction has been approved. The corridor study is a long-range planning document, and neither concept currently has construction funding attached to it. Planning-level estimates put full implementation at approximately $103.1 million for the one-way option and $109.4 million for the two-way option, based on 2026 dollars.
If adopted, the study would instead give Bloomington a framework for seeking federal, state and other outside funding. Improvements could then be completed gradually as grants and individual project opportunities become available.
The Nov. 16 Transportation Commission meeting will be open to the public and will include public comment. The commission’s review is only the first formal step. Public hearings before the Plan Commission and Bloomington Common Council are expected to follow.
More information about the study is available at bloomington.in.gov/transportation/cwcs. Questions may also be directed to Planning Services Manager Ryan Robling at [email protected].
