Following the completion of BT’s route optimization study in early 2020, the recommendations for service changes that resulted from the project were put on hold due to the uncertainties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. Since that time, BT staff have reevaluated those recommendations and drawn from them a set of 4 key components to implement in phases, beginning in summer 2022.
Upon review, please complete our Service Change Survey by May 1st, 2022.
BT staff will conduct a series of public input sessions to inform final decision-making.
In-Person Meeting
Monroe County Public Library, Meeting Room 2A
303 E Kirkwood Ave
Thursday, March 31 @1:00p-2:30p
In-Person Meeting
Downtown Transit Center, Conference Room
301 S Walnut St
Tuesday, April 5 @ 5:30p-7:00p
Virtual Meeting
Zoom
Thursday, April 7 @2:00p-3:00p
Phase 1, Summer 2022
- Replace late evening service with BT-discounted trips on transportation network companies (Uber/Lyft)
Phase 2, Fall 2022:
- Merge routes 1 South and 7 Express into single route: Route 7
- Merge routes 3 East, 8 Local, 9 Campus, 10 Hospital into single route: Route 90
- Standardize break schedules
PHASE 1: Summer 2022
Replace late evening service with BT-discounted trips on transportation network companies (Uber/Lyft)
- 9:10p final departure from Downtown Transit Center (reduced from 11:10p)
- Between 9:00p-12:00a trips within the service zone depicted below would be eligible for discounted rides on Uber/Lyft
- Rider would pay first $1 of any trip, and BT would provide up $15 per trip by entering special discount code
- Riders without smartphones may call BT to hail trips. In these cases, a BT dispatcher will relay the trip information using the Uber/Lyft administrative platform
With declining ridership in the late evening past 9:00p, and BT experiencing a driver shortage, the agency must consider alternatives for providing service at times when demand for mass transit is low.
![\"map](\"https://bloomingtontransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BTmicrotransit2022-scaled.jpg\")
PHASE 2: Fall 2022
Merge Routes 1 South and 7 Express: Route 7
- 1 Hour Run Time
- 20min weekday frequency (reduced 30min frequency during IU breaks)
- Year-round service
The combination of routes 1 South and 7 Express would eliminate currently overlapping coverage areas and provide more consistent frequencies and schedules throughout the year. Whereas the current Route 7 Express does not run during IU breaks and summer, the combined Route 7 would run year-round.
![\"map](\"https://bloomingtontransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Redesigned7-2.2022-1-scaled.jpg\")
Merge Routes 3 East, 8 Local, 9 Campus, 10 Hospital: Route 90
- 1 hour run time in each direction
- 20min weekday frequency (reduced 30min frequency during IU break periods)
- Year-round service
Route 90 would combine all of our current eastside routes into a single high-frequency, bi-directional loop route. Route 90 would operate buses simultaneously in its clockwise and counter-clockwise direction each at a peak weekday frequency of 20min.
![\"map](\"https://bloomingtontransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Redesigned90-2.2022-scaled.jpg\")
Standardize break schedules
Routes affiliated with providing service to IU Campus that reduce service during IU break periods would operate standardized break schedules throughout the year to provide more consistent service.
During IU break periods, the following routes would operate standardized break schedules
Route 6
7:10a-9:10p
40min frequency
Route 7
6:30a-9:30p
30min frequency
Route 90
6:00a-10:00p
30min frequency