California

As we all know, the State of California is in a condition which Pamela Anderson and Dolly Parton never will be–flat busted.

And even if our Arnold performs some semi-miracles, California faces a long recovery. Of course every person knows that the state spends way more than it earns.

Lots of us give lip service to the wasteful spending. Cal-Trans, those guys with the orange suits, vests and jackets and lots of shovels and trucks and road graders catch a lot of flack. Everyone knows three or four Cal-Trans jokes. Cops and donuts run second, but are miles behind the state highway crews.

So when Woodlake businessman Chris Crumly, president of Hal Crumly, Inc. an industrial refrigeration company saw a five-man crew with three vehicles in the process of repainting the "Stop Ahead" warning on Road 206, he took note, and, as is his demeanor, took action. He called and e-mailed Cal-trans headquarters.

In a brief, but to the point message, Chris' written message sates, "This is a one-man crew job,. With one vehicle. I take offense to the waste of our tax money, and this is a prime example. Some one please explain???"

By the end of the day Crumly received an e-mail response.

As a public service pholks I print the following response to Chris Crumly from Jose Camarena, the Chief of Public Information, who notes in the message that he is "someone who matters."

I will make no further comment except to note that the safety of our state workers is a serious consideration and nothing to be taken lightly. But to what extent?. Draw your own conclusions, which, of course, you will anyway.

Here is the letter:

Mr. Crumly,

First and foremost I want to thank you for taking the time to contact us, both via e-mail and telephone, regarding what you perceive as a possible waste of State Tax Dollars. The information you provided (Date, Time, Vehicle location) helped us determine who was responsible for the vehicles and activities in question.

By way of introduction, I am the Chief of the Office of Public Information (someone who matters). I was able to forward your note, information and concerns to the appropriate personnel in our District Office and received what I hope to be a satisfactory answer for you. I spoke to our Supervisor for the North Region Maintenance Division regarding the number of employees assigned to Paint Crews as well as the number of personnel required to perform tasks which might be seen as "one-man crew" activities.

Please know that we share the same concerns regarding the proper utilization of State Equipment and all accompanying expense to our limited State Funds. Department of Transportation Management investigates similar issues/concerns and takes immediate and appropriate corrective action whenever necessary.

We in the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have Maintenance Painting Crews that are made up of two (2) or sometimes three (3) persons. This number is dictated primarily by our goal to maintain a safe environment for our personnel at all times. While the striping or stencil work performed by our Paint Crew may only require one person, a second person will act as a Safety "lookout" depending on the proximity of the work to adjacent traffic or roadway intersections. In case of any emergency, there also needs to be someone available to contact the appropriate Response Team or Agency.

Of important mention also is the fact that our Maintenance Crews work in close range of high-speed traffic. Whenever a complete lane-closure, for the safety of the traveling public as well as our crews, is not feasible, our employees must use an Attenuator Vehicle equipped with a "crash cushion" designed to reduce and deflect the impact of any errant vehicle possibly striking our work crews in the field. An Attenuator Truck is operated by one (1) or sometimes two (2) persons.

We also employ Maintenance Field Supervisors who are in the field checking the work these Maintenance Crews are performing. Each Supervisor has their own vehicle and makes frequent stops at the many locations where their staff are working on each given day. The crew you encountered today will be working on this road and others in the general area. As detailed here, a Caltrans Maintenance Paint Crew can include as many as six (6) personnel in one location at one time. The Department feels that the protocols we use as Safety Measures ensure our employees are not injured or killed by vehicles traveling at high rates of speed within their immediate work environment. We also feel that these Safety Measures are an appropriate use of State Tax Dollars.

Again, I would like to thank you for your time as well as your concern regarding this Department's use of State Tax Funds. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (559) 488-4067. Please travel safely during this winter season and throughout the new year.

Best Regards,

José L. Camarena,

Chief Office of Public Information Caltrans-District 6

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