Bloomington, Indiana – In a move aimed at rethinking how parking works across the city, the City of Bloomington has officially launched a comprehensive study to evaluate its parking policies, pricing, operations, and technology. The initiative, in partnership with Walker Consultants, will take a close look at how well the city’s current parking systems are serving residents, businesses, and visitors—and what needs to change.
The citywide parking study will assess all aspects of Bloomington’s managed parking, from on-street parking to residential zones, city-owned garages, and surface lots. According to city officials, the review is part of a long-standing commitment to evaluating how parking functions within a growing urban environment.
“We want a city where the logistics of parking don’t add frustration to people’s lives,” said Michelle Wahl, City of Bloomington parking services director. “This study is about building systems that reflect how Bloomington is growing, making it easier for people to live, work and connect across our community.”
The study is not just about counting parking spaces or tweaking meter rates. It is also expected to look deeply into how parking impacts neighborhoods, supports local businesses, and contributes to equity and accessibility in transportation. As part of the research, Walker Consultants will benchmark Bloomington’s systems against similar cities to offer tailored, practical recommendations.
A key component of the process is public input. Residents and other community members are encouraged to participate in an online survey that will stay open through May 27. Their responses will help shape the final findings and proposals, which are expected to be released later this year.
In addition to serving daily drivers and city planners, parking plays a major financial role in Bloomington’s municipal operations. In 2024 alone, parking citations brought in over $1.61 million in revenue—slightly down from the $1.73 million recorded in 2023. Those funds are funneled into the City’s General Fund, helping support a variety of public services without requiring new tax increases.
“Parking enforcement not only ensures parking turnover and accessibility but also contributes to the City’s ability to maintain operations without relying solely on additional tax revenue,” city officials noted.
The review will also evaluate the use of current parking technologies and how they might be improved to enhance user experience. Issues like payment convenience, signage, digital tools, and data collection are all expected to be on the table as the city explores how to modernize its systems.
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This isn’t the first time Bloomington has taken a hard look at its parking strategy. The city conducts periodic studies to ensure its approach evolves in line with population growth, business development, and changing transportation patterns. However, this particular effort comes as Bloomington continues to grow and change, adding new challenges to how people move around and find places to park.
Ultimately, city leaders hope the outcome of the study will lead to better, more equitable policies that simplify the parking experience for everyone who lives in or visits Bloomington.
For questions or more information, the public can contact Michelle Wahl at [email protected] or 812-349-3436.
