Hats Off

Helpful, informative and fun

Editor’s Note: After receiving a news release on the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge demolition and replacement News Flash, Susan Simon at KSCO News sent Caltrans this note:

Thank you sooo much. I'm having a great time watching a whole bunch of newsflashes...very cool.

Aside from the news flashes being fun, I've always been impressed by Caltrans folks....whether it be office people who are super responsive to media queries, or "the folks on the ground," who have all been very helpful (especially this winter) at keeping/getting our roadways functional to the best of their ability. Kudos to ALL.

Susan Simon
KSCO News
AM-1080
Santa Cruz

The news flash Susan Simon saw can be viewed at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/paffairs/newsflash/


Kind and clean

A member of the public recognized Caltrans Maintenance employee Lupe Dominguez’ hard work and wrote this letter.

A member of the public recognized Caltrans Maintenance employee Lupe Dominguez’ hard work and wrote this letter.

Photo by District 2

Note: A member of the public recognized Caltrans Maintenance employee Lupe Dominguez’ hard work and wrote this letter.

I want to give a "way to go" to the very pleasant gentleman running the snowblower on the sidewalks at the Grass Lake Rest Area on U.S. Highway 97 southbound on Tuesday morning March 7.

T his gentleman [Lupe Dominguez] had just finished cleaning the restrooms and they were the cleanest rest area restrooms I have seen in several states.

He was also very pleasant even though he was in the midst of running a snowblower to clear the wet spring snow we all love so much.

I am certain he is just as ready as the rest of us to be over snow for this year.

Please be certain this gentleman's supervisor knows that he is truly an asset to your organization. Thank you.

Steve and DeDe Krigbaum
Pullman, WA


Recognition and appreciation

From left to right, Caltrans Maintenance North Bay Road Warriors Jimmy Adams, Chad Klein, Dillon Maples, Cassandra Coker, Mark Caldwell, Will Hauke, Pete Ielmorini, John O’Neill, Vicente Perez, Fred Bailey and Diego Ortega received a thank you from a Kentwood resident. North Bay Road Warriors Chris King and Robert Lee are not pictured, but included in the thank you.

From left to right, Caltrans Maintenance North Bay Road Warriors Jimmy Adams, Chad Klein, Dillon Maples, Cassandra Coker, Mark Caldwell, Will Hauke, Pete Ielmorini, John O’Neill, Vicente Perez, Fred Bailey and Diego Ortega received a thank you from a Kentwood resident. North Bay Road Warriors Chris King and Robert Lee are not pictured, but included in the thank you.

Photo by District 4

Thank you for getting California through the deluge of rain, snow, and the windy and numerous storms of this past year!

I often thought, with every footage of mudslides, freeway ponding, flooding, etc. on the news, how hard Caltrans is working!

I am impressed with the Caltrans team getting everyone from here to there!

The Marin Northbay Caltrans team: Will, Chad, John, Cassie and Maintenance crews work hard in Marin and Sonoma counties, fixing potholes, removing graffiti, litter and countless other tasks. Many thanks to you!

With appreciation,

Trisha Snow
Kentfield


Grateful to be in the loop

Caltrans crews had to reconstruct State Route 74 after winter storms washed out part of the soil under the roadway.

Caltrans crews had to reconstruct State Route 74 after winter storms washed out part of the soil under the roadway.

Photo by District 2

Editor’s Note: A deluge of late January rainstorms undermined a section of SR-74, a heavily traveled arterial route between southern Orange County and Riverside County. Also called the Ortega Highway, the roadway had to be closed for three weeks while crews reconstructed the highway. Thousands of motorists and residents were affected by the closure.

Local resident Trisha Comstock was the Facebook group administrator of the 'Highway 74 Residents and Commuters' group. Caltrans worked to keep them informed as workers reconstructed the highway. Caltrans District 12 office in Orange County received the following 'thank you' email for the team that worked on the emergency closure.

So many folks in the 'Highway 74 Residents and Commuters' group appreciate your updates and professionalism during the Ortega Highway closure.

Many of us tried to ask if we could send food, flowers or anything to your crews and you in appreciation. Of course, you all had to decline any so called "gifts." Now, all we can share with you is our appreciation for a job well done.

Thank you.

Trisha Comstock
Orange County


Artistic science

The new Interstate 15/State Route 91 crossroads spurred a Murrietta resident’s thank you note for all the good highway work in southern California.

The new Interstate 15/State Route 91 crossroads spurred a Murrietta resident’s thank you note for all the good highway work in southern California.

Photo by District 8

Editor’s Note: This thank you note is to Caltrans for all the work the Department does in southern California, and also to Caltrans’ local partners, including the Riverside County Transportation Commission for building beautiful highway connections that make traveling easier.

We want to thank you for the beautiful job at the crossroads at Interstate 15 and State Route 91.

All these years we have watched in awe as the construction progressed...the engineering marvels went up.

The work is scientific and artistic.

Over the years, we have watched many highways emerge between Orange County through Murrieta (I-215) where we live, and down through San Diego, especially in the north county area on I-15.

We have lived in several states, and praise you for the wonderful highways in our area. Well done.

Dick and Joan Wagner
Murrieta


Visionary and skilled planners

Caltrans Senior Transportation Planner Jacob Armstrong played a lead role in generating new solutions for the I-8 Hotel Circle/Taylor Street interchange.

Caltrans Senior Transportation Planner Jacob Armstrong played a lead role in generating new solutions for the I-8 Hotel Circle/Taylor Street interchange.

Photo by District 11

Pictured left to right, Caltrans Senior Transportation Planner Maurice Eaton, Transportation Engineer Roy Flores, Transportation Planner Vanessa de la Rosa, and Associate Transportation Planner Roy Abboud came up with creative planning concepts that spurred the thank you letter below.

Pictured left to right, Caltrans Senior Transportation Planner Maurice Eaton, Transportation Engineer Roy Flores, Transportation Planner Vanessa de la Rosa, and Associate Transportation Planner Roy Abboud came up with creative planning concepts that spurred the thank you letter at left.

Photo by District 11

Editor’s Note: The following letter was sent to San Diego and Imperial county District 11 Director Laurie Berman.

I wanted to reach out and share some feedback regarding Caltrans District 11 staff. I attended a briefing regarding the Interstate 8 corridor study. As you know, I-8 in Mission Valley and particularly Hotel Circle/ Taylor Street areas are some of the most challenging road segments and interchange areas in all of District 11. Having worked on a variety of projects in Mission Valley throughout my career, I appreciate the planning challenge that Hotel Circle/I-8 represents. Fortunately Caltrans staff, and in particular, Jacob Armstrong, seem up to the task. As a favor to the city of San Diego and to the stakeholders in Mission Valley, Jacob and Caltrans staff were able to bring new and thought-provoking options to the table.

Although this was a limited effort, the concepts generated in this process will likely go a long way towards generating solutions on Hotel Circle/I-8. These options previously didn’t exist and it requires skilled and visionary planners to put these options on the table and further the discussion. Although not every idea presented is feasible, they provide needed context for the larger discussion which will be continued as the community plan is updated.

In particular, the one way circulation on Hotel Circle was a refreshing idea because it has the potential to improve mobility options for all modes of transportation. The willingness to explore these ideas and put them on the table should be commended. I was encouraged by the meeting and by the efforts of Caltrans staff and look forward to discussing options with Jacob in the future as development continues in Mission Valley.

Thank you for your leadership at Caltrans. Clearly, you have put together an incredible team with bold and fresh ideas and a cooperative spirit.

Justin Schlaefli
President
Urban Systems Associates, Inc.


Highway rescue saves director's town hall

Caltrans Equipment Operator II Newman Whitaker came to the aid of two videographers stranded near Harris Ranch on their way from Sacramento to the Director’s Town Hall in San Diego.

Caltrans Senior Transportation Planner Jacob Armstrong played a lead role in generating new solutions for the I-8 Hotel Circle/Taylor Street interchange.

Photo by District 11

Editor’s Note: The following thank you letter was sent to Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty on May 30.

While they were on their way from Sacramento to San Diego to webcast the Director’s Town Hall, two members of my staff had not one - but two tires blow out. Caltrans staff from both Districts 6 and 7 went out of their way to help get them to San Diego on time. When the first tire blew out near Harris Ranch, Caltrans Equipment Operator II Newman Whitaker happen to come along from the Mendota yard in District 6 and helped them.

Hours later the spare tire blew, stranding them in Valencia. Fortunately, District 7 Highway Equipment Superintendent III Brian Valenti, Public Information Officer Chief Lauren Wonder and Maintenance Deputy Debbie Wong helped get their van to a maintenance yard…and Debbie drove to Valencia to pick them up and lend them her car so they could get to San Diego on time.

These folks played a major part in helping make sure the Director’s Town Hall got going without any more hitches. Their willingness to help, makes Caltrans a great place to work.

James O’Brien
Director of Caltrans TV Communications Center