The City of Bloomington is planning to create a bike trail on the south side of Seventh Street in 2021. The trail, which will be called the 7-Line, will provide a safer, easier connection for all travelers between the IU campus, downtown, the B-Line Trail and surrounding neighborhoods, according to the city.
It will stretch from the B-Line Trail to Woodlawn Avenue. Construction will take place in 2021, but specific dates have yet to be determined.
The design includes expanded two-way bike lanes, according to a Zoom information session. This will require the removal of some on-street parking on Seventh Street. There will be a buffer between the bike lane and automobile traffic as well as a buffer between the bike lane and the sidewalk, which is called a protected bicycle lane. The buffer between automobile traffic and the bike lane will likely be plants or bus stops.
People who wish to use skateboards, roller blades or scooters will also be able to use the bike lane.
Bloomington Transit will benefit as well. The design also accounts for an improved bus corridor that will allow for quicker pick-up times and a safer environment, according to Zac Huneck, the planning and special projects manager for Bloomington Transit.
The trail is one of Bloomington’s bicentennial projects, all supported by a $10 million bond. It was inspired by the B-Line Trail, which allows for easier north-south travel. The 7-Line will allow for easier east-west travel, said Beth Rosenbarger, planning services manager for the City of Bloomington.
"The lack of east-west connection, especially for multi-model transportation, bike and pedestrian, access was identified as one of the key missing links,” said Sager Onta, a project manager with Toole Design Group, the 7-Line project designers.
The plan is being reviewed by city advisory commissions and the City Council, Rosenbarger said.
