Finding a way to get students safely underneath California’s arterial interstate has been a challenge for the City of Lathrop since the Lathrop High School opened. 

Originally with only a stop sign separating traffic coming down the offramp and the dozens of students that walked along that route daily to get to the high school, the city eventually installed a guardrail that separates traffic from the pedestrian walkway. 

But on Monday, the Lathrop City Council approved spending $40,000 in Measure C funds to install a lighted crosswalk, signage, and manual pedestrian pushbuttons that will add an additional layer of safety for the students who walk along that route twice a day to get to and from school.

Because the $40,000 was not included in the two-year budget that was approved last month, staff recommended that the council approve the expenditure from the Measure C fund and bring the item back to the Measure C Oversight Committee for authorization to use the tax funds for that purpose. The committee was made aware of the potential approval of this project when they met last month. 

The proposal meets the criteria listed in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and is in line with the City of Lathrop’s Traffic Calming Program. 

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.