Caltrans District 6 and District 9 representatives briefed the Kern COG board on staffing moves, storm response, and project schedules.

District 6’s representative reported two forthcoming staff departures (John Liu, deputy for maintenance and operations, retiring at year-end; Alec Kimmel, system planning branch chief, moving to District 5 at month’s end) and said the 99 Corridor Management and Capital Plan (CMCP) has been published and is available online. The District 6 representative listed active and upcoming projects including guardrail and bridge-rail replacement north of the Kern River, the Wasco pedestrian beacon (construction awarded), 46/43 intersection improvements (coordination delays with railroad/utilities), the 99-to-westbound-58 connector (baseline agreement submitted for CTC review), the Bakersfield Freeway Connector (punch-list work), and multiple rehab projects targeting construction in 2026–2027.

The District 6 representative also reminded local agencies that the draft ITIP will be submitted to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in December and that the fiscal-year build-program notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is expected soon; agencies requesting letters of support from Caltrans should allow 14 business days after a NOFO is issued for signature processing.

District 9’s Jill Tognazzini reported staffing changes (Marcela Castleberry as acting deputy district director for planning and environmental) and field responses to recent storms in eastern Kern: Ridgecrest overlay delamination, Cameron Canyon flooding that clogged an 80-inch culvert with debris, and other local flooding requiring contractor removal of large rocks. She said crews are monitoring sites daily and that contractors will be required once storm flows subside. District 9 also noted an in-house EV-charger electrician now supports quicker repairs in Boron and nearby areas.

Board members asked for additional project boundary post-mile details, timing for Pumpkin Center rehab, and clarification on culvert size and right-of-way acquisitions. Caltrans agreed to provide more granular post-mile and boundary information for local agencies upon request.

The updates provide a near-term schedule and points of contact for jurisdictions tracking construction, maintenance and emergency repairs across Kern County.