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Bloomington council codifies all‑way stop at 7th and Dunn, directs corridor review
Summary
The Bloomington Common Council voted 7–0 to adopt an ordinance making the 7th Street/Dunn Street intersection an all‑way stop and to pursue a broader review of the 7th Street corridor to balance safety, sustainability and accessibility goals.
The Bloomington Common Council on Nov. 6 adopted Ordinance 2024‑23 to make permanent the all‑way stop at 7th Street and Dunn Street and to direct staff and advisory commissions to pursue a broader review of the 7th Street corridor.
Council sponsors said the ordinance simply codifies a temporary 180‑day traffic order at that particular intersection while opening a multi‑stakeholder conversation about how to optimize the corridor for safety, transit and bicycling. “The purpose of this ordinance is to codify the thing we all agree on,” Council member Flaherty said during sponsors’ remarks.
Sponsors and staff debated whether additional stop signs or alternative measures (larger pedestrian signs, improved crosswalk markings, speed feedback signs, LED enhancements) would better address vehicle speeds and cross‑traffic awareness. City Engineer Andrew Seabour said data show the corridor carries far more bicycle and scooter activity since the 7‑Line project and that crash rates per trip have not risen; but he cautioned that the city has limited counts to draw definitive statistical conclusions. “Ultimately, I was recommending these stop signs because I have confidence that those would work,” Seabour said.
Council member Stossberg, a cosponsor, said the motion was intended to “get this one out of the way so that then we can have broader conversations about the rest of the corridor,” and listed possible non‑sign interventions — larger crosswalk markings, upgraded “cross traffic does not stop” signage, and speed monitoring — for staff to test.
Supporters pointed to reduced severity of injury crashes in pre‑ and post‑project corridor data presented in the council packet; staff noted that while total injury crashes have been higher since the project, incapacitating injuries among vulnerable road users have decreased. Opponents or skeptical members urged rigorous before‑and‑after counts to separate whether increased bicycle volumes represent mode shift or diversion from neighboring streets.
The ordinance was adopted by a vote of 7–0. The action codifies the all‑way stop at 7th & Dunn and directs the city to continue collaborative work with relevant advisory commissions on corridor design and traffic controls. The ordinance sponsor said the goal is to align decisions with the city's adopted priorities — reducing serious injuries, increasing sustainability through mode shift, and improving accessibility.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2024‑23 (amend Title 15, Vehicles and Traffic; codify multi‑stop intersection at 7th & Dunn) — Adopted 7–0.
Next steps: Sponsors expect staff and commissions to convene on corridor design options and to return with implementation recommendations and any necessary follow‑up ordinances or amendments.
