Now that there is a separate bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the 120 Bypass safely, Councilman Gary Singh wants the city to work toward connecting it using on-street bike paths to Sierra High.

He made his request Tuesday during the council comments portion of the City Council meeting. While several council members agreed it was a good idea, there was no indication whether there was consensus to have staff bring the suggestion back to a future council meeting to provide actual direction to staff.

Singh noted there are more homes being built south of the 120 Bypass that are in the Sierra High attendance area. Like Manteca and East Union, plans are to expand facilities at Sierra High for a designed program enrollment of 2,200 to accommodate growth.

That would increase enrollment at Sierra by nearly 500 students with almost all of that growth coming from new housing planned south of the 120 Bypass.

Singh noted upgrades at the Airport Way interchange that the city has indicated most likely will be similar to the Union Road improvements completed in late 2020 “are years away.”

Singh wants to see a bike lane connection on both sides of the 120 Bypass to the pedestrian/bicyclist crossing.

To reach Sierra High that would require going north to Wawona Street to the campus.

There is also a growing amount of people bicycling to reach venues south of the Bypass such as the 16-screen movie theater at Orchard Valley. Those living south of the Bypass have been using the crossing to reach locations north of the 120 Bypass.