CT News 2023, Issue 3

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

Caltrans celebrates landmark anniversary

Fifty years ago, on July 3, 1973, the Division of Highways was formally reimagined and renamed as the California Department of Transportation – or, as we informally call ourselves, Caltrans. We celebrate this landmark anniversary with equal parts pride, for all we have accomplished, and determination, to steadfastly continue improving our state’s transportation system.

News

Who you gonna call? The safety assessment team

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, phones began ringing nonstop at 2:35 a.m., one minute after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck 7.7 miles southwest of Ferndale in Humboldt County. At 7:03 p.m. on Dec. 21, CalOES tasked Caltrans to activate its Safety Assessment Program.

Quite the life, and career, for Thienan Nguyentan

Thienan Nguyentan and her family emigrated from Vietnam to the United States when she was 14 years old. Thienan overcame many obstacles and drove herself to succeed. She joined Caltrans after a successful stint with San Joaquin County and has ascended to District 10 Traffic Safety Branch Chief North Counties, a role she said she enjoys and finds meaningful and impactful.

Highway safety poster contest winners named

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. The contest also allows them to be part of Caltrans’ educational outreach and life-saving message.

Making a difference one investigation at a time

Tucked away in an office at the California Highway Patrol’s Northern Division office sits Scott Gregory, a senior transportation engineer for Caltrans District 2. An odd place for a Caltrans employee to be, except Gregory is part of the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) and uses his expertise as a transportation engineer to help investigate major injury or fatal traffic collisions when CHP management determines a more in-depth investigation with specialized training is required.

Award-winning stormwater campaign gets flowing

Caltrans Stormwater Program’s public education campaign, “Let’s Change This to That,” just launched the next iteration of the campaign creative, taking a deeper dive into the previously released pollutants of concern and what communities across the state can do to help. The pollutants include bacteria, pesticides, nutrients, metals, litter and sediments.

Storms, resultant damage test Caltrans’ resources

This year the wintertime in California has been different in many ways for us Californians. The three years of consecutive drought shrunk our water sources, such as lakes, reservoirs and aquafers statewide. We hoped for some relief this winter and wished for enough to recover the losses during the past three years. We got our wishes beginning Dec. 24, 2022.

Wildlife crossing seeks to reduce elk strikes

The Wildlife Crossing project is situated in Siskiyou County approximately 15 miles north of Weed. It spans from 0.5 miles north of Deer Mountain Road to 0.2 miles south of the Grass Lake Maintenance Station and is meant to create a safe wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 97 with funding from Caltrans and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Relief's on the way as I-5 project advances

At the John "Chuck" Erreca Rest Area Replacement Project along Interstate 5, approximately 20 miles south of Santa Nella near the Merced/Fresno County Line, District 10 Construction and contractor Walsh Construction Company (Concord) began work in April 2022 to demolish and replace the existing comfort station buildings and increase the capacity of the existing northbound and southbound I-5 facilities.

Info officer hailed as ‘woman who means business’

Interim Chief Information Officer Marcie Kahbody was honored with the prestigious ‘Women Who Mean Business’ Award by the Sacramento Business Journal. In her current roles as Caltrans CIO as well as CalSTA Deputy Secretary of Technology, Marcie leads technology and collaboration across California transportation departments to increase innovation and successful information technology project delivery.

Hats Off

“The city of Santa Barbara is thrilled with the amazing work performed by the Caltrans District 5 Construction and Maintenance teams, along with their contractor, landscape support services and the sub-contractor Tropical Creations, for highway improvements along U.S. Highway 101 in the Santa Barbara area from the city of Carpinteria to the city of Goleta. “We would like to show our appreciation by providing donuts and coffee to all of you. We would be happy to host your team when convenient for all.”

DOT Shots

Check out scenes of, about or at least related to our 21,000 Caltrans colleagues as we continue to go about our business serving all those who use or benefit from our state's transportation network.

Health and Safety

Containing stress can help improve your quality of life

You probably know that your physical and mental health can be harmed when stress levels get out of control. And, when stress accumulates and isn’t relieved for an extended period, true burnout can result. No one wants to go there if they can help it. Fortunately, you can find stress management techniques that work best for you. It may take practice to adopt new stress busters, but the effort will be worth it.

Who's New

Chris Clark, broadband media specialist

Chris Clark has rejoined Caltrans after previously serving the Public Affairs unit in 2020-21, where he specialized in media relations and crisis communications during the pandemic. His current post as the broadband media specialist focuses on strategic message development, media outreach and public relations regarding Caltrans’ role in facilitating the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI).

John Kirkpatrick, deputy division chief in Traffic Operations and Safety Programs

John Kirkpatrick is the new deputy division chief for the centralized administration program serving both the Division of Traffic Operations and the Division of Safety Programs. In this role, John oversees the Program Support, Program Management and Talent Management Offices that serve a critical role in supporting both the headquarters divisions and the statewide programs seeking to bring transformational change in mobility and safety. 

Bonny Nyaga, DBE-SBE support manager in Director’s Office

Bonny Nyaga is the new construction Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and Small Business Firms (SBE) support manager in the Director’s Office. Bonny has more than two decades of experience with Caltrans, performing diverse functions across multiple divisions including Maintenance and Construction. During his career in public service, he has championed innovation and built lasting partnerships with other agencies, contractors and stakeholders.

Nikki Tiongco, South San Diego County and Trade Corridor director

In District 11, Nikki Tiongco is the new South San Diego County and Trade Corridor director, effective June 1. Nikki has been with Caltrans for 15 years.  As the acting SCTC director appointed in 2022, Nikki leads the Otay Mesa East site preparation contract, the Harbor Drive 2.0 and Vesta Street environmental clearance, and the South County asset management projects. Nikki’s vision for the corridor is a more efficient, economically competitive, and less-polluting transportation network. 

Duper Tong, District 10 deputy district director of traffic operations

Duper Tong is the new District 10 deputy district director of traffic operations. He is responsible for the supervision over a multi-disciplinary staff and for managing and leading the Division of Traffic Operations in the district, which includes the Office of Safety and Office of Mobility. Duper has more than 25 years of professional experience in transportation planning, design, traffic safety, electrical systems and traffic operations from both the private and public sectors, including working for Caltrans for the past 20 years.

Kathie Vizgaudis, administration deputy district director for District 1

Kathie Vizgaudis is the new administration deputy district director for District 1.  She succeeds Jana Hollifield. Kathie started her Caltrans career in 2008 as the small business liaison, working in the Public Information Office and also assisted with various PIO duties.  Over the years she has held several positions in administration including district safety officer, chief of administrative services and most recently administrative operations manager. 

Service Awards

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

Retirements

A list of Caltrans employees who retired in April and May.

Obituaries

Keng Mun Low, senior bridge engineer

Longtime senior bridge engineer Keng Mun Low passed away on Feb. 10 at the young age of 57. He was born in a small town of Bentong, Malaysia, on Nov. 14, 1965, the first son born to Low Teck-Hoi and Fu Sai-Mui. His younger brother, Keng Choong made the family complete in 1967.

Michael Rodney Pope, bridge engineer

Bridge engineer Michael Rodney Pope, 61, of Auburn died on Feb. 25. Mike graduated from California State University, Sacramento with bachelor’s degrees in business and civil engineering. He was a devoted employee of Caltrans for over 30 years working his way up to senior bridge engineer, bridge design branch chief.

Robert Vincent Syverson, District 1 biologist

Caltrans biologist Robert Vincent Syverson died on March 27 at age 56. He worked all over the district with the Caltrans maintenance crews to protect and enhance the environment when completing maintenance projects, and for storm response. Robert worked in rivers and streams improving fish passage and overall watershed health. Many a tree he planted and saved with creative multidisciplinary solutions.