Construction on a new 8-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian path is under way as a part of Sacramento State’s master plan for bicycle accessibility.

The construction calls for the current bicycle path on State University Drive West to extend 4,000 feet from Hornet Crossing, which leads people onto campus from Elvas Avenue, to State University Drive South and Stadium Drive in the south, and to State University Drive in the north.

In addition to expanding the bike path, bike lane striping will be painted onto roads along the university perimeter in the future.

This is part of a larger plan to give bicyclists access to campus without having to bicycle into the car-and-pedestrian-crowded center.

One of the main ideas in expanding the bicycle paths is to keep bicyclists off of Sinclair Road, next to the tennis courts and Parking Structure I, providing them the option of going around campus instead of through.

The estimated cost of the project is $400,000, which is being paid by grants from CalTrans. The bicycle path improvement project began on August 7 and is slated to be complete by the end of October.

Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Services Victor Takahashi said the project will bring more continuity from Hornet Crossing to the north and south portions of campus.

‘??You’ve always been able to go through the (Hornet Crossing) tunnel…but there’s been no pathway here, that’ll be a big plus,’?? Takahashi said, as he pointed to a map of south campus near Stadium Drive.

And the change does not only benefit bicyclists ‘?” pedestrians will also be welcome to use the new path.

‘??They’ll have a 2-foot shoulder on each side,’?? Takahashi said. ‘??It’s kind of like how the American River pathway is. Even though you’ve got a lot of bike traffic on the asphalt, there are still the shoulders that people walk up and down. This still should be pedestrian friendly.’??

Takahashi said all of the other construction projects going on ‘?” such as replacing pipelines throughout campus to upgrade sanitary sewer lines, heating and air conditioning and steam boilers ‘?” have made this project a challenge.

The installation of new pipelines includes replacing a sewer line going in along the streets.

‘??Some of this has been a challenge because a lot of building has been happening since the plan was made. The plan probably needs readdressing.’??

Students who cycle on campus said the project will be helpful when it is complete.

‘??I’d be in favor of the expansion of the bike paths. I think that’s something that needs to be done. I’m sure I would end up using it,’?? said Erik Edmunds, a first-year English grad student.

‘??I think the plans are a good idea because bicyclists aren’t that safe on the roads, said Mike Dodge, a first-year government grad student. ‘??And theoretically, you’re not supposed to ride through campus. I think the bike lane striping is also a good safety feature.’??

Plans for the future include further extension of bike paths to the Residence Halls, northbound, and all the way around the southern end of campus via bike lane striping to allow students to go from the Guy West Bridge to the Hornet Crossing tunnel without having to go through campus.

‘??I think the goal of this project is to make it easier for bicyclists to get around on campus,’?? Takahashi said

Tom Roberts can be reached at [email protected]