Hats Off

Maintenance crews to the rescue in District 2

The Beckwourth Maintenance Station work crew includes, from left, Ryan Reese, Jonathan Roseberry, Matthew Lewis, Karen Partlow, David Recasens, Brian Fee, Tyler Davis, Mike Smith and Keith Clark. Not pictured is crew member Shane Frazier.

The Beckwourth Maintenance Station work crew includes, from left, Ryan Reese, Jonathan Roseberry, Matthew Lewis, Karen Partlow, David Recasens, Brian Fee, Tyler Davis, Mike Smith and Keith Clark. Not pictured is crew member Shane Frazier.

Note:The following letter to the editor was published in the Portola Reporter.

Day after day these wonderful people attack our roads, pushing large amounts of snow and ice, keeping State Route 70 in great shape. We haven't seen this much snow for a long time; the last time was when we moved here in December of 2002. Getting to Portola or points east has not been difficult due to the work these Caltrans workers have done, some late at night into the early morning. We want them to know their hard work is deeply appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

Toodie and Bob Marshall
Beckwourth


Something nice happened on District 5 worker's watch

The following email was sent to CT News last month.

I wanted to relay a story to you because I’m so grateful. In February, I sent a package via FedEx containing a watch that had considerable sentimental and monetary value to the watch company for repairs. I had dropped the package off in a small box to FedEx. The package never made it to the watch company and FedEx told me the package was lost.

Fast forward to yesterday, Monday, March 4th. My office got a call from Jeff Bowers, one of the Caltrans employees here in San Luis Obispo, and he said he had been working on the median near Madonna Road on southbound Highway 101, when he found a small box. The box was waterlogged since we’ve had so much rain, but it was intact. He opened the box and found my letter to the watch company, found my firm’s phone number, Googled me to confirm it was me, and then called. He said he wanted to return the watch to me. He gave his cell number to my co-worker and asked that I call him so we could meet.

I met him about 10 minutes later at a parking lot near 101 in San Luis Obispo and he had the watch, the mangled box, and the documentation. It remains to be seen if the watch can be fixed since it was out in the rain for three weeks, but I am so grateful that he found the watch and was willing to return it. The receipt for the watch was in the box and it is not an inexpensive watch. He easily could have kept it, but he didn’t.

Jeff was so kind and honest and I am so appreciative. Hats off to Jeff and his co-worker in the truck (I’m not sure who it was) for being so honest.

Thank you for your attention,

Carrie Miller
San Luis Obispo


Pit stop for compassion on the Bay Bridge

Toll booths on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
 

Editor's note: The following tribute, headlined "To Christina the toll booth worker (I-80 WB)," was posted on Reddit's "SF Bay Area" discussion site on March 6 by Mikroliterspritzen.

I'm sorry for probably freaking you out by pulling up to the toll booth sobbing. I had just broken up with my boyfriend and was, obviously, having a rough time of it. Your kindness, reassurance, and simple gesture of a lollipop made the rest of that hour long drive home so much more bearable. I know our paths will probably not cross again, but I wanted to say thank you. So thank you, you made a terrible evening so much better.

Steve Heuring
Lompoc area


A Facebook shout-out to District 2

A Facebook photo post about Caltrans by Barbara Brady
 

On Feb. 10, Barbara Brady posted the following on Caltrans HQ's Facebook page: "Had to drive State Route 36 yesterday afternoon from Susanville to Red Bluff. Thanks to Caltrans (and AWD, low gear and patience) I made it safely. This snowplow was heaven-sent to get me through a lot of the worst of it. Thanks to all the Caltrans workers for being out there and doing such a great job!" So kudos to the District 2 maintenance crews based in Red Bluff, Mineral, Chester and Susanville.


Reader knows that QuickMap is the way to go

A screen grab from Caltrans' QuickMapp app
 

Note: The following email (with the subject line "Caltrans QuickMap is FANTASTIC!") was sent to Michael G. Dipsia, a Senior Transportation Engineer in District 7.

Dear Mike,

I know as an engineer, you're more into the physics of rocks and mud and such, but I just wanted to thank somebody at Caltrans for how up-to-date and useful the Caltrans QuickMap is!

During our last rain-zilla it was my go-to for checking on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, and it never let me down. The Caltrans tweets are nice, too, but the wealth of It's Happening Now information on the QuickMap, including CHP Incidents, really helps us all.

If there is any person or team that I can thank, please let me know.

Gratefully,
Jane Terjung
Topanga


Sweet tweets

A Twitter screen grab that shows a picture of a Caltrans snow plow in operation
 

Caltrans rocks on Twitter! Here we share compliments all 12 of our districts (and headquarters) have received in recent weeks.

"Looking Good!" – missusbrian, commenting on two District 1-tweeted photos of Caltrans work crews cleaning up storm debris off State Route 299 at the Salyer Wall in Trinity County.

"Thank you so much for your hard work! It is an overwhelming job and we appreciate all that you do." – Celeste White, responding to a District 2 tweet picture of Caltrans crews clearing fallen and precarious trees.

"This is so incredible. Thanks for taking care of this & keeping us safe! & thanks 4 sharing." – lovingred2, commenting about a 17-second District 3 video showing a Caltrans cannon-initiated avalanche control above Highway 50.

"Thank You! It's looking great" – dirk dieter, in response to a photo tweeted by District 4 that shows the new San Jose Avenue pedestrian bridge scheduled to open soon over Highway 1.

"Good job!" – Scott G. Dweck, responding to District 5's tweeted announcement that the Gaviota Rest Area has reopened after undergoing water line repairs.

"Thanks to Caltrans District 6 for removing a hazard tree on SR 49 3 miles north of SR41 (Oakhurst). Caltrans was advised of the hazard tree leaning towards the highway and within 24 hours the tree had been cut down, hazard removed. Thanks Tim & Adam for the quick response." – TheFox, in response to a HQ tweet urging motorists to give snowplows room to do their job.

"Thank you for your diligence and hard work" – Haig Kartounian in response to a District 7 tweet showing pictures of flooding and mudslides from the past week that Caltrans crews cleared.

"Thank you for posting this. Please everyone share with everyone! If we all follow these rules then it makes it better for everyone and as a local you hit all of my pet peeves about visitors!" – Van Effner commenting on District 8's tweet thread about tips for mountain driving.

"Thanks for all you do, guys. Awesome job." – SHAC, reacting to a Highway 395 closures update tweeted by District 9.

"Thanks so much for … all the hard work getting roads open and safe for travel!" – Duncan Lawrence, commenting on a District 10 tweet that updates chain-control information along State Routes 4, 88 and 108.

"Thanks to the crews!" – Do Yabba, commenting on three pictures tweeted by District 11 of litter removal along Interstate 8 near Alpine.

"One unexpected outcome from my recent road trip down the California coast – I now obsessively follow Caltrans on Twitter ... so I can know how all my favorite roads are doing ... didn't see that coming" – Ellen Rousseau, in response to an HQ tweet urging motorists to drive safely.

"Wow" – Stinky Cheddar, reacting to a couple of pictures tweeted by District 12 about Caltrans crews dealing with hazardous materials spilled onto Highway 91.