U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin visited Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business on Thursday to discuss new safety improvement funding for 10th Street.
Houchin, a Republican representing Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, touted $1.2 million in federal community project funding for pedestrian safety improvements along Bloomington’s 10th Street.
“Securing this type of funding is not easy,” Houchin said. “It has been multiple months in the making, and this is a great day to celebrate these improvements for Indiana University.”
Houchin secured almost $7.5 million for the district through the 2026 Fiscal Year appropriations package, finalized on Jan. 22, within the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Act.
Also at the press conference — attended by just one reporter — were IU President Pamela Whitten and IU Student Body President Zach Goldberg.
“This is an important project to make 10th Street a safer place as well as an easier street to get up and down and move around campus, so this will be great for students,” Whitten said.
According to crash data, there were 77 crashes on East 10th Street in 2024.
Whitten and IU Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities John D’Angelo said the university has been looking to make improvements to 10th Street for years.
“Money doesn’t necessarily grow on trees, so this was a great opportunity to get some resources from the federal government to make some important improvements, especially along this really busy corridor of 10th Street,” Whitten said.
Houchin said the funding will support safety upgrades including a new high-intensity activated crosswalk, known as a HAWK, pedestrian signal, expanded sidewalks, enhanced crossing markings and an improved center median.
A HAWK crosswalk is used to aid pedestrians in crossing streets safer, being pedestrian-activated and acting as a traffic signal for vehicles. The HAWK looks similar to a traffic signal, telling drivers to stop on red and clearly displaying that the area is a pedestrian crosswalk.
“These are practical changes that will reduce risk and improve the daily experience for students and the entire campus,” Houchin said.
The IUSG Department of Transport and Infrastructure, founded last year, has worked to improve street safety since April 2025 by submitting letters of support and advocating for traffic safety around the university, Goldberg said.
“10th Street is a major student intersection on our campus, and we’re grateful for the collaboration between IU Student Government, Congresswoman Houchin, IU’s leadership and the City of Bloomington to help these improvements become a reality,” Goldberg said.
Next, IU will receive a letter from the granting agency, leaving the money to the university to begin the project, Houchin said.
The university will have more information on a timeline for the improvements once they receive the federal funding, university spokesperson Mark Bode said over text.
Along with IU, Houchin allocated money to four other 9th District projects, with IU receiving the second largest amount of money out of the four.
The other projects that received funding include the Charlestown Blight Elimination Project, Monon South Trail, Georgetown State Road 64 sidewalk improvements and Sam Peden Community Park Improvements.
Requests for appropriations come from the community, Houchin said. She then submits the requests on their behalf.
Following the press conference, Houchin visited Bloomington City Hall to speak with Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson and Director of the City of Bloomington Utilities Katherine Zaiger. Bloomington received $1.25 million from the appropriations package to improve the city water system.
