The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) will co-sponsor the annual Statewide Fallen Workers Memorial Ceremony on the west steps of the State Capitol at 11 a.m. on April 26. The ceremony remembers and honors those employees who have lost their lives building, maintaining, and operating California’s transportation system with the placement of a wreath at the center of a large diamond of orange cones. Each cone bears the name of one of the 188 Caltrans employees who have been lost in the line of duty.
This past year, Caltrans lost two of its own: District 4 Toll Collector Si Si Han, who was killed when an alleged drunken truck driver crashed into the toll booth Han was working in; and District 4 Structural Steel Paint Supervisor Annette Brooks, who was shot and killed at the Rio Dell Maintenance Station in District 1. If you are unable to attend the Sacramento ceremony, check with your district office or search “Workers Memorial” on the Caltrans’ website (www.dot.ca.gov) to find local memorials.
On March 13, District 3 Permanent Intermittent employee Daniel Strang was severely injured while stationed at the I-80 Donner Lake Interchange chain control checkpoint area. A worker assistance fund has been set up in Daniel Strang’s name through the California Transportation Foundation (CTF). You can donate to the Strang Assistance Fund at www.transportationfoundation.org/donate and CTF will match donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000.
In February, former Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty gave his farewell address at the Sacramento Transportation Forum, to which he received a standing ovation from nearly 300 members of the transportation community. Dougherty also gave a shout-out to incoming Director Laurie Berman, who was also in attendance. This event raised $7,550 during a “live fundraiser” to support CTF scholarships for students working toward a master’s degree and a career in transportation.
In other business, the CTF’s SoCal Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled for April 16 at the Dove Canyon Golf Club in Orange County. The NorCal Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled for September 24 at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club at the Cache Creek Casino in Northern California. Please be sure to request time off work to attend these fun events that support the transportation community. For more information on sponsoring and registering for these events, please visit CTF’s website, www.transportationfoundation.org.