District 10 photo by Erin McQueary
By Erin McQueary
District 10 public information officer
Construction on a complete streets project that will install audible pedestrian signals and upgrade sidewalks and curb ramps along a two-mile stretch of State Route 49 in Angels Camp is slated to begin in early 2025.
But 14-year-old Ryder Sitch, who is blind, needed solutions before he began his freshman year at Bret Harte Union High School on Aug. 13.
District 10’s Project Management, Maintenance Engineering, and Field Maintenance divisions worked quickly and collaboratively to ensure temporary measures were in place before summer ended.
The shopping center on the opposite side of SR-49 from the high school at Murphys Grade Road is a popular hangout for high school students. It has a Save Mart, a Frosty, and a pizza joint. However, the intersection didn’t have the detectable warning surfaces to help Ryder safely cross it.
The yellow panels with truncated domes indicate to the visually impaired where the sidewalk ends, particularly when it lacks a sloped curb, which was the case in the southeast corner.
District 10 photo by Erin McQueary
“They are really important,” Ryder said. “Typically, it’s what separates the sidewalk from the street, so without them, I could accidentally walk into the streets.”
Heather Barnett, a vision-impairment and orientation mobility specialist with the Calaveras County Office of Education, has worked with Ryder since he was 4 years old. She advocated for accessible upgrades at and around his middle school in Avery and did the same in preparation for his start at Bret Harte.
On April 30 she contacted city officials, who contacted District 10 Asset Integrator Office Chief Allen Lao. He worked with Mountain Region Maintenance Manager Wes Bigham and Maintenance Engineering Office Chief Jose Alicea to secure funding and order the materials. On July 2, the Altaville Maintenance Crew installed detectable warning surfaces on all four corners of the intersection.
Ryder and Heather are grateful for the quick turnaround.
“By having a detectable warning surface, Ryder is able to focus on tactile feedback for texture changes,” Heather said. “The truncated domes are equivalent to a pedestrian stop sign if located in the traveler's line of travel when approaching the street. By installing the detectable warning surface, Ryder can position and cross safely.”
Ryder lost vision in his right eye when he was 1 year old due to a cancer called retinoblastoma. The cancer claimed his left eye a few years later. Learning to navigate his environment has been a lifelong process.
Better access means more autonomy for Ryder. He will still need some assistance crossing SR-49 until the audible signals are installed, but the detectable warning surfaces are an essential component of accessibility.
The efforts of the District 10 teams achieve Caltrans' goal of advancing equity and livability in all communities and being a people-first organization.