Bloomington's commitment to pedestrian safety and active transportation is stepping up with planned enhancements to several crosswalks throughout the city. Following the Active Transportation Action Plan adopted in December 2023, the city has pinpointed nine crosswalks for upgrades, including the installation of curb bump-outs, pedestrian refuge islands, and pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, according to an announcement on the city's official website.
City Engineering is tackling the insufficient sidewalk network, filling significant gaps on West 78th Street west of Normandale. In areas where laying down new sidewalks proves infeasible, particularly along West Bloomington Freeway and lower Lyndale Avenue, pedestrians will see the addition of a dedicated pedestrian lane or a lane shared with cyclists, as detailed by the City of Bloomington.
One major project detailed in the city's announcement involves East 82nd Street between 12th Avenue and Old Cedar Avenue. There, alongside a utility replacement project, the city plans to remove a large segment of the road surface and one curb line, with a repositioning of the new curb to accommodate a boulevard that will provide a buffer between the roadway and pedestrians.
Those interested in the specifics of the Active Transportation Action Plan can find more information and updates on the City of Bloomington's official website.
