Ahead of the fall semester, both Bloomington Transit and IU Campus Bus Service made changes to routes that service IU’s campus, as well as other parts of Bloomington.
Bloomington Transit changes:
Changes to BT routes 6 and 9 were primarily due to the transition to a new fleet of electric buses that are unable to fit under the low clearance underpass on 10th Street.
The changes to routes 6 and 9 are:
- The 6 Limited no longer runs and its buses were added to the main route 6 with additional stops in the afternoon.
- Route 6 now stops at the Student Recreational Sports Center and Campus View Apartments.
- Route 9 now services Jefferson Street and more of Third Street.
- Both routes 6 and 9 no longer service Tulip Tree Apartments.
According to BT General Manager Bryan Fyalkowski, changes to the 6 and 9 routes mainly affect IU students, while BT’s changes to route 13 primarily affect Bloomington residents and Ivy Tech Community College students. BT introduced route 13 in January as a 60-minute route but found that the time frame was not efficient.
“The bus would be frequently ahead of schedule, causing it to sit idle at some locations while waiting for time to pass,” Fyalkowski said in an email.
Most of the changes to route 13 attempted to rectify this issue:
- The 13 now serves the Northwest YMCA on inbound trips.
- Outbound and inbound trips both pass through Ivy Tech and Park 48 industrial park, making it easier for Highland Village residents to reach those destinations.
Along with route changes, BT is shifting to digital bus passes for IU students. Students must download the Umo Mobility app and follow the instructions on BT’s website to ride fare-free during this academic year. Fyalkowski said students may not use their digital CrimsonCards to scan onto the buses, but if riders still have a valid physical Crimson Card, they can use it to access BT buses for the time being.
“There may be a time in the future where physical Crimson Cards don't scan at all on our buses, so we are trying to get ahead of that in some respects and avoid any potential headaches,” Fyalkowski said in an email.
IU Campus Bus Service changes:
IU Campus Bus Service accommodated BT's lack of service to Tulip Tree Apartments by including it as a stop in its routes, Director Justin VanLeeuwen said in an email.
IU Campus Bus Service modified the E, F and X routes:
- The E route now stops at Tulip Tree Apartments.
- The F route now begins at the Stadium White Lot, providing access to Third Street and continuing service along Fee Lane.
- The X route was reversed to get students to the Kelley School of Business faster than the F route, which has been expanded.
More detailed information on Bloomington Transit and IU Campus Bus Service routes can be found on their websites.
