BLOOMINGTON, IN – Bloomington Transit Corporation (BT) has announced the expansion of Sunday bus services starting March 26th. The decision follows years of riders’ requests to provide service seven days a week. The BT has added hourly service on five routes, including 2 West, 2 South, 3 East, 3 West, and 7 South, between 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
The expansion of service is made possible by additional funds raised through local income tax (LIT), which was approved by the Bloomington Common Council in 2022. The BT identified several major transit projects that will advance public safety, climate change preparedness and mitigation, equity and quality of life, and essential city services. The additional funds will also be directed to expanding the eligibility for discount fare programs, implementing a high-frequency transit corridor spanning east-west known as the “Green Line,” and raising service frequency on all routes to a minimum of every thirty minutes.
Projects to enhance Bloomington Transit services
BT has leveraged over $1 million of LIT-raised funds as a local match to a federal grant totaling over $7 million for the purchase of eight battery-electric vehicles. The BT aims to operate a 60 percent battery-electric fleet by 2030. With additional revenue raised through the LIT, BT seeks to enhance access to reliable and convenient transit service for everyone in the community.
Sunday bus service will mark the second project implemented by BT using additional funds raised through the LIT increase. The agency staff announced the expansion of service at the February 2023 meeting of the Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation (BPTC or BT) Board of Directors. Inaugurating the new service, all buses on Sunday will operate fare-free for the first month until April 30th.
The shortage of bus operators remains a limiting factor for the transit agency, but BT seeks to roll out further service expansions, including Sunday service on all routes and increased weekday frequencies, later in 2023. The additional funds are well timed to support the goals established by BT in its newly completed strategic plan.
