District 10 photo
District 10 equipped the Stockton and Merced maintenance yards with HP sign printers and plasma cutters. Previously, the district relied on a single printer in Stockton and outside vendors.
By Bob Highfill
District 10 PIO/encampment coordinator
A recent collision on Highway 99 in Stockton caused extensive damage to guardrails, fencing, and signage. Stockton’s Fence and Guardrail team responded quickly, made repairs, and replaced the damaged sign using newly acquired in‑house fabrication technology.
Working in coordination with Headquarters Traffic Operations, District 10 equipped the Stockton and Merced maintenance yards with HP sign printers and plasma cutters. Previously, the district relied on a single printer in Stockton and outside vendors. The new equipment expands graphics capabilities, allows the use of graffiti‑resistant film, and enables custom designs – significantly reducing reliance on external production, said Valley Maintenance Manager Jesus Zuniga, who led the effort.
“Jesus has been the driving force behind this project since early discussions in 2023,” said Tanya Sanguinetti, Deputy Director of Maintenance for District 10. “His leadership strengthened the partnership between HQ and District 10 and greatly improved the efficiency of our sign production.”
In February, District 10 unveiled its upgraded sign‑making system at the Stockton Maintenance Sign Shop. Staff demonstrated the new tools before an audience that included Vijay Talada of the Headquarters Division of Maintenance and Tong Yang, Deputy Division Chief for Field Technical Support.
“In emergencies, when signs are not readily available in‑house, we can now fabricate them ourselves,” Talada said. “Incorporating these technologies took substantial initiative and effort.”
Previously, procuring a sign through vendors could take weeks—or even years. Now, District 10 can produce and install signs within days. “We would sometimes wait two years for signs,” said James Serpa, Maintenance Supervisor for Stockton’s Fence and Guardrail crew. “If I get a CHP report, I want that sign built right away. This system lets us do that.”
The first sign produced with the new equipment replaced a damaged Stockton City Limits sign along northbound State Route 99 at Arch Road.
Two years ago, Caltrans operated only two in‑house print shops statewide. Today, most districts have the equipment and trained staff to fabricate their own signs. The cost savings are significant—Zuniga estimates reductions of up to 60 percent—supporting Caltrans’ commitment to responsible stewardship of public resources.
Beyond time and cost savings, the upgrades enhance workforce capability and product quality. Staff can now produce durable, high‑quality signs, including those with advanced graffiti‑resistant coatings, on demand. The customized printing options also support specialized needs, such as memorial highway signage.
Most importantly, faster sign production directly supports Caltrans’ top priority: safety. “It’s impressive to see how quickly we can produce signs in‑house and return them to the field,” said Jose Alicea, Office Chief of Maintenance Engineering for District 10. “This capability is a tremendous benefit to our district and to the motoring public.”
District 10 Public Information Officer Erin McQueary contributed to this report.