Click here for a one-webpage version of all the stories in this column, in their complete form. (Service Awards and Retirements are not included.)

Director's Corner

Let's keep the momentum going

Hello Caltrans Family. As I prepare to move into a new leadership role as Secretary for the California State Transportation Agency, I want to briefly recap and place emphasis on some of our notable and newer Departmental focuses. These important components have been shaping our work at Caltrans, and each one of you – every member of our 22,000 strong family – has been making invaluable contributions to this work every day..

News

Crashed motorists owe their lives to District 2 duo

Two crash victims are singing the praises of two Caltrans Maintenance employees who went above and beyond to save their lives. On Sunday, December 19, Heather Akkerman says she and her friend Christopher were traveling on State Route 263 in Siskiyou County when their truck left the roadway and rolled numerous times before coming to a stop at the bottom of an embankment.

Storm came calling after Christmas. Caltrans was ready.

Just as people were enjoying their holidays, on the day after Christmas, a large winter storm brought rain to the coast and snow in the mountains, resulting in the closures of State Routes 36, 96 and 299 due to downed trees and utility lines. Facing the task of getting the roadways back open in Humboldt County, Caltrans District 1 crews quickly went into action.

Snowed in and low on fuel, District 1 finds a way

Humboldt County declared a local emergency in late December following an unusually severe snowstorm that led to road closures and power outages, including an outage at the public safety radio vault maintained by Caltrans District 1 at the top of Horse Mountain off State Route 299. That’s when Caltrans District 2 and Humboldt County Public Works Roads Division stepped up to assist.

D5 rocks! (rock blasting and scaling, that is…)

Whether it’s from Mud Creek to Rat Creek or Big Sur on State Route 1 in Monterey County, the Montecito Mudslide in Santa Barbara County, or the brushfires in Santa Cruz County, or near Gaviota in Santa Barbara County, the District 5 Blasting Crew has had a very busy and challenging few years.

Struck by fire then by flow, District 8 mends road

On Sept. 20, 2020, the Eldorado Fire burned a total of 22,744 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest near Angelus Oaks adjacent to State Route 38. During the fire, Caltrans Geotechnical Design Branch B, and Caltrans District 8 Maintenance Engineering responded and began making assessments to begin an Emergency Director’s Order for repairs to the route once the fire was contained.

Surveyors salvage piece of history at Capitol

The Caltrans Survey program recently completed a survey project to perpetuate the position of an historical survey monument in the grounds of the State Capitol in downtown Sacramento that will be removed to accommodate the Capitol Annex project.

Materials engineering winners announced

The Francis N. Hveem Memorial Scholarship honors the late Francis N. Hveem, former State Materials Engineer and Chief of the Materials and Research Laboratory in Sacramento. Annually, the Francis N. Hveem Memorial Scholarship committee gets together to select finalists who meet the eligibility criteria.

Hats Off

Drainage issue quickly solved in District 5

"This morning one of your employees, Aldo, knocked on my door (in Santa Barbara) to report a problem with drainage. It turned out to be a neighbor's, and in no time we worked out a plan to resolve the problem quickly, inexpensively, lastingly and to the satisfaction of all parties, including Caltrans. We have a short-term solution already in place and a long-term one coming in a few days, before the next storm barring unforeseen circumstances."

It's our turn to thank others for good deeds

This Hats Off item as an unusual twist: Caltrans itself is the one doing the thanking! Check out the correspondence sent on Jan. 26 to Victor Valley News Group by Jim A. Rogers, District 8's deputy district director of maintenance, about a newspaper story related to three suspects who were arrested for the theft of catalytic converters from the Barstow Maintenance facility.

Health and Safety

How to be social media savvy

Social media can expose kids to cyberbullying and harmful content. As a parent, you want to help your kids use social media safely. To do so, become familiar with popular social apps and sites for kids and teens, such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and Kik.

Service Awards

A list of Caltrans employees who celebrated 25 or 40 years of service, or who received superior accomplishment awards, in December and January.

Retirements

A list of Caltrans employees who retired in December and January.

Who's New

Abby Jackson, Planning & Modal Program’s homelessness and housing solutions lead

Abby Jackson in February was promoted to become Caltrans’ Planning & Modal Program’s homelessness and housing solutions lead. This role serves as a co-lead on statewide issues related to homelessness, with a focus on improving ongoing local engagement and developing longer-term solutions to complex issues and policy matters relating to homelessness and housing.

Nicole Longoria, Caltrans’ federal liaison

Nicole Longoria is department’s new federal liaison. She has served Caltrans for more than 22 years. Her comprehensive federal background includes working for eight years on federal transit policy and legislation in the Division of Mass Transportation, and 10 years as the Chief of the Planning and Policy Research Branch in the Division of Research, Innovation and System Information.

John O’Connell, statewide customer service officer

John O’Connell is Caltrans’ new statewide customer service officer. In that role, John manages the Customer Service Request program as it pertains to the districts and act as the liaison between Headquarters Public Affairs and the Division of Maintenance, Traffic Ops and Equipment. Additionally, he will provide oversight, guidance and training to the district customer service liaisons.

Obituaries

Bobby Biffel, retired transportation engineer

After 90 successful trips around the sun (as he would call it), retired Caltrans engineer Bobby Biffel passed away peacefully on Oct. 18 after a brief illness. Bob worked for Caltrans for 37 years, before retiring as a supervising transportation engineer.

Edith “Rennie” Reynolds Darnell, retired director of mass transportation

Coronado resident Rennie Darnell passed away peacefully in her home Dec. 29, 2021. In 1981, Rennie moved to Sacramento and had a career in transportation planning with the State of California Department of Transportation. As a transportation planner, Rennie worked in the bicycle and rail programs and eventually became the director of mass transportation.

Richard “Dick” Gee, retired District 4 director

Retired Caltrans engineer and District 4 Director Richard “Dick” Gee passed quietly at home on Christmas evening after a several decades battle with Parkinson’s disease. Dick spent over 25 years at Caltrans, working his way up through various assignments and ascending the leadership of Caltrans District 4. His projects included Interstate 580, Interstate 680, Highway 380, and the 92/101 interchange.

Ronnie L. Green, retired equipment operator

Retired Caltrans equipment operator Ronnie L Green, 68, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 16, in Visalia. Ron worked as an equipment operator and retired from The California Department of Transportation in 2010.

Bob Dayton Tucker, retired maintenance worker

Retired Caltrans worker Bob Tucker died of natural causes, peacefully at home, with family by his side. Bob began a new career in 1961 with the Division of Highways, now Caltrans. He began as a Maintenance Worker II in Hollister, then El Centro, and finally, Half Moon Bay, where he became foreman. Through hard work, night school and excellent mentors he became region manager of San Jose territory.

John Joseph Williams, retired civil engineer

John Joseph Williams went to be with the Lord on Sept. 2, 2021. John enlisted in the Army and upon discharge moved to California where he met his wife of 57 years, Charlotte Ann (Ferguson) Williams. He worked as a civil engineer for Caltrans for 45 years, retiring in 2005.

David Alan Wood, District 8 Maintenance supervisor

District 8 Maintenance supervisor David Alan Wood, 55, after a valiant fight, succumbed to Covid-19 complications on Dec. 19, 2021. Dave worked for Caltrans, promoting through the ranks which included: P.I. (Victorville); Maintenance Worker (Blythe); Equipment Operator, Lead Worker on Special Crews (San Bernardino mountains); Striping and Supervisor Storm Water Crew (District 8); Supervisor (Shaver Lake); Supervisor (Essex and Barstow); Superintendent (Sutter/Sierra Region); Superintendent (Donner Pass); and Maintenance Manager 1 & II (Metro Region).