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Director’s Corner

Tragic death is a reminder we must do more

Here at Caltrans, we are dedicated to creating, maintaining and constantly improving the state’s vast transportation system. We strive to make that system safe, efficient and, in terms of the environment and technology, forward-looking. This is important work that we all take seriously and can justifiably feel proud in doing.

We must not forget, however, that it can be dangerous work. On the morning of June 3 on Interstate 80 near Vacaville, our colleague Quanda McGadney was killed by a hit-and-run driver. A landscape maintenance worker and department employee since 2018, Quanda left behind a young daughter and two sisters, among other loved ones and friends. Her death was tragic and deeply disappointing. Why does this kind of thing happen, despite all the precautionary measures (“Be Work Zone Alert,” “Slow for the Cone Zone,” the “Move Over” law, etc.) we take?

During the latter part of spring, mere weeks before Quanda lost her life in Solano County, all of Caltrans’ dozen districts and Headquarters conducted annual Workers Memorial ceremonies. One of the fortunate things we were able to say at these events was that no Caltrans worker had been killed on the job since 2018.

We expressed gratitude for this fatality-free stretch, our longest in nearly 75 years. But we also emphasized that we needed to remain vigilant. Safety can never be taken for granted. We always can do more to help protect the traveling public and our most valuable resource, all of you.

In this issue of CT News, you can read more about Quanda and see photographs of our Workers Memorial ceremonies throughout the state. We have good news to share, including our just having won an AASHTO award for an innovative information-graphic project.

Good news is abundant in our department. Let us acknowledge and savor it. In  honor of Quanda and all Caltrans workers who died before her, we must do our very best to make California’s transportation system safer than it has ever been – as we strive for zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050.

News

Maintenance worker Quanda McGadney killed on the job

Caltrans News Release 

Caltrans is mourning the June 3 death of Quanda McGadney, 51, a landscape maintenance worker for the department. Quanda was killed while working near Lagoon Valley Road on Interstate 80 (I-80) in Solano County.  

Quanda had served the people of California for more than 18 years and joined Caltrans in 2018. She is survived by her 9-year-old daughter, Nairobi, and her two sisters, Priscilla Stevenson and Candice McGadney.   

Just after 10 a.m., Quanda was struck by a hit-and-run driver on westbound Interstate 80 near Vacaville. She succumbed to her injuries on-scene. The California Highway Patrol has arrested a suspect.  

“The loss of one of our own public servants in this tragic incident is being felt heavily within the Caltrans family. Our thoughts and heartfelt support are focused on her family, friends and colleagues at this time,” said Caltrans Acting Director Steven Keck. 

Quanda is the first Caltrans District 4 (Bay Area) employee to die on the job since 2017. She is the 37th in the history of District 4 and the 190th Caltrans worker to lose their life on the job since 1921. 

“This tragedy is particularly painful, coming so close to our workers memorial service just a little over a month ago, and drives home how dangerous our work on California’s roadways can be,” said Keck. “Our focus on safety and the ‘Move Over’ law, and asking the public to increase their awareness of the people working on the highways on their behalf are part of our continued effort to eliminate these tragic incidents.”  

To help Quanda’s family at this difficult time, a memorial fund has been established through the California Transportation Foundation. Go here to donate via credit card. Donations may also be made by check and should be payable to CTF with “Quanda McGadney Memorial Fund” noted on the memo line and mailed to: 

CTF
9500 Kiefer Blvd.
P.O. Box 276828
Sacramento, CA 95827-6828

These Caltrans kids’ poster are winners!

By Caroline Moreno
Public Affairs, Headquarters 

Each year, Caltrans holds its annual Highway Safety poster contest. The contest is open to children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of Caltrans employees, and it gives the children an opportunity to express their messages about the importance of driving safely in or near highway work zones. It also allows them to be part of Caltrans’ educational outreach and life-saving message. 

The contest was open to children 17 years old or younger, and judges selected posters based on creativity, how well the poster conveyed the highway safety theme, and the use of color. 

Although the posters differ greatly in appearance, they all convey one of these important messages, "Be Work Zone Alert" or "Move Over." The winners were, 14- to 17-year-olds, Naomi Melak, 14, a ninth-grader at Castro Valley High; 11- to 13-year-olds, Orlando Juarez, a seventh-grader at Nobel Middle School; 7- to 10-year-olds, Henry Hyde, a fifth-grader at Vineyard Elementary School; and ages 6 and younger, Luke Leynes is a six-year-old Kindergarten student at the St. John Batiste de la Salle school. 

You can learn more by clicking on this link. 

No-sting operation: Caltrans helps save beehive

By District 5 Public Affairs 

As part of a bridge rehabilitation project on State Route 154 near La Colina Road in Santa Barbara, Caltrans field staff discovered a large 8-foot honey-beehive occupying a cavity inside a large highway signpost. 

Caltrans worked closely with the contractor, C.A. Rasmussen, and the Super Bee Rescue Company to relocate the signpost to a safe place and rescue the bees.  

All flying bees return to the hive at nightfall, which allowed to hive entrances to be closed with screens after dusk before the signpost could be transported to a safe location where it could be carefully opened so the bees, larvae and honeycomb could be transferred to a commercial hive.  

Caltrans and its partners through this effort saved nearly 40,000 bees that were inside the signpost, and those bees now continue to help our ecosystem.  

The bee company will care for the bees for some time due to undergoing this major transfer to a new location experience.  The bees will be cared for and monitored until they have settled into their new hive before they are relocated to agricultural areas of Santa Barbara County, where they can pollinate local crops such as avocados and blueberries.  

Caltrans was able to complete its work while maintaining the life and safety of these bees and respecting the environment in which they live so they will be productive and continue to thrive in nature. 

Stormwater program shakes finger at the shameful six

By Loren Magaña
Manager, Stormwater Public Education Program 

Water quality affects the everyday lives of Californians who rely on local waterways to live, work and play. As the summer season approaches and drought conditions persist, the Caltrans Stormwater Public Education Program, “Let’s Change This to That,” is working to bring attention to the top six sources of stormwater pollution that affect waterways in each California Water Board region. 

The pollutants identified have an outsized impact on the water quality of community lakes, rivers, streams and the ocean, and many are preventable through small actions Californians can take. The following six pollutants and preventative actions can keep waterways clean: 

• Trash and litter: properly secure items in truck beds and put trash and recycling in the bin. 
• Sediments: prevent soil erosion by sweeping driveways instead of hosing them off; use mulch in the garden, and plant trees and shrubs. 
• Nutrients: avoid overfertilizing lawns and plants and limit vegetation waste by keeping fallen leaves out of storm drains. 
• Bacteria: limit pet and RV waste by picking up after your pet and using appropriate RV dumping stations. 
• Metals: regularly check tire pressure, change oil and fluids, and use commercial car washes to prevent metals generated from vehicle, tire, and brake wear from ending up on highways. 
• Pesticides: use organic pesticides and properly dispose of unused portions. 

“Preventing stormwater pollution requires the help and support of every Californian, and it starts with keeping highways and roadways clean,” said Steven Keck, acting director of Caltrans. “We know every community is different and each water body faces its own unique set of challenges, but trash and sediment are far and away the most common source pollutants plaguing water quality in our state. 

“ Those of us who live, work, and play in California must take necessary steps to prevent pollution from the source and keep our waterways clean.” 

In a press conference on May 3 at the Berkeley Marina Waterfront, the campaign called on all Californians to pledge to keep stormwater clean and also unveiled localized creatives in the Top 5 media markets. We invite you to visit CleanWaterCA.com to take the clean water pledge and learn more about the sources and pathways of stormwater pollution and what we can do about them.

Caltrans wins AASHTO Best Use of Technology & Innovation

By Tamie McGowen
Assistant deputy director, Public Affairs

I’m happy to announce the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) named the winners and shared this video today of the western region for 2022 America’s Transportation Awards Competition. Caltrans won the “Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Small category” for the 360 Tours Project developed by Joaquin Pedrin in the Division of Design, District 4.

During the pandemic, Caltrans strategies for engaging with internal and external stakeholders changed dramatically. With limited opportunities for face-to-face meetings, the department found it challenging to communicate intent on various issues. Caltrans’ 360 Tours addressed that problem, while taking public engagement to the next level. The interactive, web-based interface is an easy-to-use tool for project managers to communicate a project’s intent to internal and external stakeholders. The system works without specialized software or skills to operate and is accessible through desktop and mobile devices. Visitors to the website can “zoom in” to areas of interest and view simulations of impacts like sea-level rise on existing or future roadways. Visually demonstrating these effects communicates the process for non-English speaking users as well, creating more equitable engagement.

View more information about the project here and see an example of the 360 Tours here. Find the AASHTO press release here.

 

Hats Off

True blue: In District 4, rising to the challenge

Note: The following email was sent to District 4 Public Information Officer David Hafner by Jean Boagiages of San Francisco.

I just want to share with you a photo of the paint work that Caltrans is doing under the bridge.

We have a terrible graffiti problem, but today, Caltrans is on top of it.

I'm sure I speak for the neighborhood when I thank Caltrans for keeping this up.  Our Potrero Gateway project will benefit.

District 5 tree crew lauded for prompt, welcome help 

Note: The following email was sent to District 5 on May 20 by the daughters of Geri McClellan: Susan Pico, Trish Graybill and Kerry McCarthy.

“We want to express our sincere gratitude to Caltrans Santa Barbara Area Maintenance Superintendent Aldo Estrada and the Caltrans tree crew for the work done in front of our parents’ home in Santa Barbara.

“A hit-and-run accident left our 95-year-old mother with extensive structural damage to the property, a gas leak, and debris found four houses away. She was without gas, thus no hot water for cooking, dishes (and) baths, and without a dryer, stove or heater for a week.

“Whereas the insurance company has taken over two months to decide how they will address the incident, Caltrans stepped in immediately to assess damage and correct the situation. Several times we heard Mr. Estrada say that they would be back first thing in the morning because it was essential to have the utilities working for Mom. 

“The project involved removing huge roots that had dangerously wrapped around a city water main. These had to be carefully taken out to reach the gas line that was crushed during the accident.

“(The Caltrans crew’s) work ethic and skill level is one we should be proud of in this community and one I am so thankful to have witnessed. We are so appreciative of the tree crew's dedication and commitment to their jobs, which stood out above all else. It was not an easy task: long hours, hot days, and a dangerous situation. 

“We also were put at ease from the start by the wonderful communication and expertise of the supervisor, Aldo Estrada. What a great team they make. They brought calm to our chaos with exceptional support and a job well done. 

Health and Safety

Respecting relationships: Close ones keeps us grounded

Social connections and strong, loving relationships are the strongest predictors of happiness. Close relationships keep us grounded and provide the encouragement and support we need to weather life’s challenges. In fact, research shows that people who are lonely and isolated are more likely to suffer from depression, dementia, heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses. Lonely people may even be at greater risk for an early death.

Clear and open communication is essential for a happy, healthy relationship. It’s the best way to establish trust and increase emotional intimacy. One of the first rules is to become a better listener. Active listening involves focusing on what the person is saying and understanding his or her point of view without judgment or interruption.

Respect is the foundation of every healthy relationship. Here are some tips for building and maintaining strong relationships at home and work:

• Be reliable, honest, and trustworthy. Keep the promises you make, and do what you say you’re going to do. Being reliable fosters trust.
• Maintain healthy boundaries. Everyone needs privacy and a degree of autonomy. Healthy boundaries are maintained when individuals respect each other’s limits.
• Show appreciation. Everyone likes to be appreciated, but it’s easy to take people for granted. If it’s been a while since you last expressed appreciation, now is the time to start. It can be as simple as a thank-you, a compliment, or noticing and acknowledging what someone does for you.
• Apologize when you’re wrong. Sincerely expressing remorse and accepting responsibility when you’ve made a mistake or have hurt someone helps to clear the air and repair the relationship.
• Deal effectively with conflict and disagreements. Conflict is inevitable in any relationship. Successfully working through conflicts and disagreements involves empathy and good communications skills. Focus on the problem at hand without bringing up old issues; listen carefully to each person’s point of view, and look for common ground. If arguments get too heated, call a time out for people to collect themselves

Obituaries

Michelle Ann Hancock, retired Caltrans worker

Note: The following obituary appeared on DignityMemorial.com.

Retired Caltrans worker Michelle Ann Hancock, wife of retired Caltrans engineer Steve Hancock, died April 25. She was 65.

Michelle  was always a storyteller, an attribute born of her love of history, genealogy, and family, and her genuine interest in everyone she met. After a heroic battle with cancer, she left those of us who loved her behind, to carry on telling our stories in her place.

Michelle was born on March 14, 1957, to the parents Sarah-Ann (nee Vincent) and Michael McKenny in Maine, during the years when her father was an Air Force pilot. She often joked that she did more traveling as an Air Force kid than she did in the rest of her life, living in Maine, Florida, Massachusetts and eventually Germany, all by the age of 6.

In 1963, Michelle's father died in a plane crash in Germany when he was 28, and the family moved back to Fair Oaks to begin again. Sarah-Ann was widowed with three small children to care for when the family's pastor introduced her to another young widower at their church, Allan Goller. Six months later, Sarah-Ann and Allan married, and Allan adopted Michelle, Lauryl and Marcus and loved them as his own. Sarah-Ann and Allan remained happily married until Sarah-Ann passed away in November 2019 and Allan followed her in June 2021.

Michelle graduated a year early from Bella Vista High School in 1975, and then attended American River College, before going to work for Caltrans in 1986. There, she worked her way up over a long career, retiring in 2017. She had a reputation for connecting people while at Caltrans, a mother hen who was good at taking care of her colleagues, and an astute coworker suggested that Michelle would be the perfect person to help introduce Steve Hancock, a new engineer, to Sacramento. Whether it was luck or inspired matchmaking, they quickly became friends and then married, spending 22 of the happiest years of Michelle's life together.

Steve made Michelle laugh like no one else could, supported and fought for her throughout her illness, and above all, he did his best to fulfill Michelle's dearest wishes, from their wedding at a historic church in Coloma, to building and relocating to their log home in the woods of Alta, CA.

A born storyteller, it was always a dream of Michelle's to become a journalist, and she'd "interview" friends and family as if she was preparing to write an article, going so far as to pretend she was holding up a microphone, and she fulfilled that wish in retirement, often submitting articles to the Dutch Flat Community newspaper. Michelle loved being part of the Dutch Flat and Alta communities, both for the comradery of small town living as well as for the opportunity to continue her role as a mother hen.

More than anything, Michelle was a stubborn optimist and a woman of faith, who never gave up hope even when she learned her diagnosis was terminal. She spent her last year with Steve, her friend, and her family, as upbeat as ever, fighting even harder, and refusing to live as if this was the end. If it had not been for the wigs, you might never have known she was ill, and that's how she wanted it. She traveled to Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, the northern California coast and through the Rockies with Steve, all in just last six months, never relenting in her kindness, positivity, or joy for life. She was a ray of sunshine, and the lives of all who loved her are brighter for knowing her.

She leaves behind her husband Steve, her sister Lauryl Frame (husband Darren Frame); her sisters and brothers in law Amy Goller and Michael, Diane, Mary, Christine, John and Tom Hancock; her nieces and nephews Kristin Emmett, Emily Frame, Casey Frame, Spencer Goller, Macy Goller; her Malamute Timbre, and many friends from Alta, Caltrans, and from just about anywhere she stopped to chat and learn a new story. She is reunited with parents, Sarah-Ann, Michael McKenny and Allan Goller; and brother Marcus Goller.

John Howard Stenzel, retired maintenance supervisor

Note: The following obituary appeared online May 20 in the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

Retired maintenance supervisor John Howard Stenzel, beloved father and friend, passed away with his daughters by his side on April 30 in Roseville. He was 75.

John was born April 18, 1947.

John was a resident of Lincoln for 35 years. He worked for the state of California as a Caltrans maintenance supervisor for over 37 years.

In winter, he was part of the Echo Summit Avalanche Control team in South Lake Tahoe. In the summer he worked on paving crews across California repairing our state’s highway system.

His true joy in life was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on countryside trips just to enjoy the freedom of the ride. John loved retired life and spent his spare time barbequing and relaxing in his home that he cherished.

He is survived by his two daughters, Hope Hocking (Michael) and Lacy Stenzel, and a grandson, John Hocking. He also leaves behind his brother Rick Stenzel (Janice). He is preceded in death by his sister Cynthia Easton, his loving parents Bill and Penny, and a life partner of nearly 20 years, Jeri Adams.

John had many friends whom he loved and supported dearly without question. John had the biggest heart and welcomed all with open arms. He had a great sense of humor and a positive outlook on life. He will live in our hearts and we are forever grateful for the beautiful memories.

Donald Wilhelm, retired road supervisor

Note: The following obituary appeared online May 20 in the Murray (Kentucky) Ledger & Times.

Retired road supervisor Donald Wilhelm, 81, of Almo, Kentucky, passed away on May 15 at Spring Creek Healthcare. He was 81.

Mr. Wilhelm was born on Sept. 22, 1940, in Ventura to Charles and Emma Christine Hodges Wilhelm.  Donald proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was a member of Murray Masonic Lodge #105, Royal Order of Eastern Star and Shriner's.

After retiring as road supervisor for Caltrans in Ventura, he moved to Murray, Kentucky, to watch his grandchildren grow up.  He cherished his time visiting and eating lunch with friends at the Senior Citizens Center in Murray. Donald was an avid golfer and will be dearly missed by many.

Those preceding him in death include his parents and a son, Dennis Wilhelm.

He lovingly leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Mrs. Lynn Bullington Wilhelm of Almo; a son, Steve Wilhelm and wife, Gwenda of Almo; grandchildren, Brandon Wilhelm and wife, Cora of Golden Valley, Arizona, Justin Wilhelm of Harvest, Alabama, Brian Wilhelm and fiancée Lauren Wagner of Murray, Adam Wilhelm of Murray, as well as, one great grandchild, Aiden Wilhelm of Goldenville, Arizona.