City Receives Updated Street, Sidepath, Sidewalk and Accessible Curb Ramp Condition Data

Bloomington, Ind. – During Wednesday’s, June 7, City Council meeting, the Department of Public Works (DPW) Street Division presented a citywide assessment recently completed of the current condition of streets, sidewalks, multiuse paths, and accessible curb ramps. The full report is available at: https://bton.in/C8BFi 

The data will be utilized to assist in administering the City’s Sidewalk Repair Assistance Program, as well as to better target accessible curb ramp improvements, identify areas of concern, and provide for better planning and budgeting for maintenance and future improvements for both our motorized and non-motorized transportation networks. 

This project builds upon a similar effort that was last performed in 2017-2018 by DPW, with the support of the Innovation Director, and updates the condition data that was collected at that time for these important transportation assets.

“This assessment gives us information that allows us to increase accessibility and mobility throughout Bloomington,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “This improves the quality of life for Bloomington residents as well as supports the goals of our climate action plan as we provide ever-increasing and connected safe transportation options that are low to no emission.”   

The Board of Public Works approved a contract with the Infrastructure Management Service (IMS) Company in September of 2021 to undertake this project. Condition data and a variety of focused infrastructure metrics were collected between the spring and fall of 2022 via an IMS crew in a vehicle that incorporated Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology. LIDAR is more time efficient than visual data collection alone and allows for real-time data collection while providing more uniform, accurate and precise reporting.      

“We’re really looking forward to having a fresh look at the current conditions for all the City’s streets, multiuse paths, sidewalks, and accessible curb ramps,” said Joe VanDeventer, Director of Street Operations. “This data is invaluable, and the technology involved allows us to plan and budget for our critical infrastructure in ways that were not previously possible.”

One of the major data sets collected was the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which is a numerical rating of the pavement condition based on the type and severity of distress observed on the pavement surface. Updated PCI data was collected for all of the City’s 239 miles of public-use streets, and staff has already begun to use these fresh ratings to prepare targeted paving improvements during the development of the City’s annual paving schedule. 

Additionally, the analysis included a number of detailed condition overviews for the City’s current street network and provided a comparison to the PCI data collected from the last assessment project that was conducted in 2017-2018. There is also a financial report that provides recommended funding levels needed to achieve specific PCI improvement target options within a five-year budgeting period. 

In addition to street data, the City is receiving PCI data for the 22.9 miles of paved public-use sidepaths for the first time ever, along with an updated asset condition picture for the 251-mile-long sidewalk network and its 6,006 associated Americans with Disability Act-compliant accessible curb ramps.