BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington is implementing the first phase of a citywide traffic signal retiming and safety upgrade effort, a project that adjusts signal timing to make intersections safer, more predictable, and easier to navigate for people driving, walking, biking, and using mobility devices. Recent updates completed along Walnut and College Avenues and at key intersections, including 10th Street and 17th Street.
With funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program, this work is part of a three-phase initiative to modernize pedestrian protection measures at signalized intersections across Bloomington
These updates are designed to improve safety and predictability for all roadway users, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, while supporting smoother traffic flow across some of the city’s busiest corridors. For residents and visitors, the most notable change may be a short delay before some vehicle signals turn green, allowing pedestrians to enter the crosswalk first.
Among the changes being introduced are Leading Pedestrian Intervals, or LPIs, which give people walking a few seconds of dedicated crossing time before vehicles receive a green light. This treatment helps make pedestrians more visible in the crosswalk and reduces conflicts with turning vehicles, one of the most common safety concerns at signalized intersections.
Project Engineer Neil Kopper presented an overview of the project on behalf of the Engineering Department at a regular hearing of the Transportation Commission on February 23, 2026. The current signal updates put policy into practice by applying LPIs and related timing changes across multiple corridors, rather than addressing intersections one at a time.
