James Pangburn, PE, a seasoned transportation engineer with over 22 years of experience, has recently joined our team. In this Q&A, James reflects on the best advice he’s received, the challenges of working in the field, and the accomplishments that have made his career so rewarding. With a passion for public service and a deep understanding of infrastructure’s impact, James offers invaluable insights for both new engineers and those seeking to advance in the industry.

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What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

My old boss once said, “It's not hard to be a good guy in this industry.” What he meant is that you do the right thing, you serve your clients well, fix your mistakes, and you should be successful. I always remember we are in a client service-based industry. I want to be a good person, a good engineer, and do the right thing.

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What is the best piece of advice you would give somebody who's just starting out in their career?

I've said this many times to younger engineers- don’t get caught up in comparisons of yourself to others. You have a certain set of skills, you are good at certain things and other people are good at certain things. No one is good at everything. You have to trust yourself and work hard. Avoid comparisons to others and focus on doing a good job, because comparison is the death of joy. It can make you mad because someone else got the project that you wanted or the promotion you thought you deserved. It can put you in a bad space. But, if you focus on what you can control and do the best you can, typically it works out. You're going to grow and you're going to be given the opportunities that you earn.

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What is your favorite part of your job? What keeps you coming back every day?

I got into this industry because of the opportunity to do public projects you see forever. You do a project and when it's done, it's there forever. You can show it off to your friends and family. You get a sense of public good. As a transportation engineer, you're responsible for the safety, multimodal use of a transportation facility. It gives me a sense of pride to know that in the end, I'm a public servant. As a private consultant, I get the excitement of a fast-paced environment. I work with really talented people who have different skill sets, whether it be marketing, financial, or sub-consultants. I have pride knowing, we make the world a safer and better place to move around.

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What do you think is the most challenging part of being a transportation engineer?

Managing the expectations of clients. You go into a project, do a proposal, scope it, and try to plan all that is needed- how long it's going to take and the level of effort that it's going to need. But nine times out of 10, that will change. There are always things that come up, like scope creep and new stakeholders that might steer the project differently. In the end, you want to try to deliver the project on schedule and on budget like you planned. Often it doesn't go to plan, you need to effectively communicate with your client. You need to get ahead of changes so that they're not blindsided and understand why you need an amendment or a schedule push. If you do this well, you build trust between yourself and the client. If you don't, they won't want you to come back. It comes down to effective communication and managing expectations.

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When did you know that transportation was the right path?

When I was a kid, I was living in Oakland when the Loma Prieta earthquake hit the Bay Area, and the Bay Bridge collapsed. Even closer to home was the collapse of the I-880 Nimitz Freeway. It was about a mile section where all the column supports snapped. A lot of people were injured and killed. My dad was a nurse at the Children's Hospital in Oakland and he was there treating kids. I wondered how that could happen and why. I realized how important all those infrastructures are. These big freeways are vitally important to getting around. That got me into the world of civil engineering. As a kid seeing firsthand the site after the collapse I realized this is something that I wanted to do to help prevent that from happening again.

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What has been the most meaningful accomplishment in your career so far?

I have a lot of pride in providing engineering support after the Camp Fire. During that time, I did the best I could to support the town in its recovery efforts, including, getting funding for research and development projects, rehabilitation projects, and sewer projects. As small as it might have been, I am proud to have been able to have had the opportunity to see their continued recovery and turn back into a vibrant community.

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This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Overview

We are excited to announce the conclusion of the Riverfront Street Extension project in West Sacramento.

Featuring a quarter-mile extension of Riverfront Street and a widening of 5th Street to accommodate the new two-way bike path, sidewalks, and utilities.

This project has helped transform this area of West Sacramento into a vibrant waterfront community and has helped make the area safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

Project Specifics

Due to grade changes along 5th Street, the project required reconstruction of the eastbound US 50 on-ramp and modifications to existing traffic signals at 15th and Bridge Street.

The bicycle connection between the current bike lanes on 15th Street and the River Walk Trail was completed by constructing a Class 4 Cycle Track along 5th Street. This included building a new curb, gutters, retaining wall, and pedestrian sidewalks, which extended the improvements of the Bridge District Specific Plan.

Wood Rodgers prepared the supplemental California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, geotechnical analysis, permitting, and right-of-way services.

Wood Rodgers’ also, prepared all Caltrans Local Assistance Procedure Manual forms for the city and worked with Caltrans Local Assistance to obtain the E-76 and Caltrans Encroachment Permit.

We developed the design for sewer and water facilities, along with the design of an innovative underground storage and infiltration storm drain system.

The project included coordinating with impacted utilities to design 2,000 feet of joint trench for electrical, telecommunication, cable TV, street lighting, and ITS for current and future development. 800 feet of overhead telecommunications facilities were moved underground.

Recognition

On July 9th, 2024, the Riverfront Street Extension and 5th Street Widening project received the 2024 Project of the Year Award in the Transportation – Road category from the APWA Sacramento Chapter.

This project was accepted by the team, which included representatives from the City of West Sacramento, Ghirardelli Associates, Inc., Teichert Construction, Wood Rodgers, and others.

Background

In July 2021, California Governor Gavin Newson signed into law Senate Bill 156 (SB156). The bill created an open-access middle-mile network to bring equitable high-speed broadband service to all Californians.

Wood Rodgers was responsible for designing the fiber optic installation along 111 miles of freeways and state highways.

Project Specifics

Wood Rodgers approached this monumental project as a data management task instead of a traditional design project. While the design element of this project was relatively simple, the size of the data and collaboration requirements was significant.

A project of this size and magnitude would usually take nine months to complete manually with a team of eight full-time employees. This project required over 500 design sheets and was completed in only six weeks with the collaboration between the design engineers and the CAD Design, IT, and GIS Departments at Wood Rodgers.

Technology

Using ArcGIS for AutoCAD, an Esri plugin, we were able to share GIS features, including aerial imagery within Autodesk Civil3D. Implementing standardized procedures for designing and planning made the process faster and easier for all team members.

Instead of viewing data in individual files, GIS was used as a central data source for all data, making all data viewable at the same time and any errors could be identified to streamline collaboration and quality control.

In all GIS was used for:

• Central Data Repository

• Data Viewing and Error Identification

• Organization of Summary Quantities

• Integration with Other Technologies

• Visual Communication and Dashboards

Recognition

In July 2024, a team of GIS professionals from Wood Rodgers attended the Esri User Conference 2024 in San Diego, CA.

We were honored to receive the Special Achievement in GIS Award for our work on the Caltrans District 3 Middle Mile Broadband Network project.

We are thrilled to announce that one of our esteemed employees, Hemayatullah Ahmadi, has recently had a groundbreaking paper published in the prestigious journal Geosciences. The paper, titled "Assessing the Impacts of Landuse-Landcover (LULC) Dynamics on Groundwater Depletion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s Capital (2000–2022): A Geospatial Technology-Driven Investigation," explores the critical issue of groundwater depletion through a detailed geospatial analysis.

Abstract

Land use/land cover (LULC) changes significantly impact spatiotemporal groundwater levels, posing a challenge for sustainable water resource management. This study investigates the long-term (2000–2022) influence of LULC dynamics, particularly urbanization, on groundwater depletion in Kabul, Afghanistan, using geospatial techniques. A time series of Landsat imagery (Landsat 5, 7 ETM+, and 8 OLI/TIRS) was employed to generate LULC maps for five key years (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022) using a supervised classification algorithm based on Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Our analysis revealed a significant expansion of urban areas (70%) across Kabul City between 2000 and 2022, particularly concentrated in Districts 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22. Urbanization likely contributes to groundwater depletion through increased population growth, reduced infiltration of precipitation, and potential overexploitation of groundwater resources. The CA-Markov model further predicts continued expansion in built-up areas over the next two decades (2030s and 2040s), potentially leading to water scarcity, land subsidence, and environmental degradation in Kabul City. The periodic assessment of urbanization dynamics and prediction of future trends are considered the novelty of this study. The accuracy of the generated LULC maps was assessed for each year (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2022), achieving overall accuracy values of 95%, 93.8%, 85%, 95.6%, and 93%, respectively. These findings provide a valuable foundation for the development of sustainable management strategies for Kabul’s surface water and groundwater resources, while also guiding future research efforts.

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You can access the full paper through the following links:

• Read Online for Free
• PDF

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Historical Context

Holcomb Avenue has a long history tied to transportation, dating back to the Virginia & Truckee (V&T) Railway, which operated from 1872 to 1950, serving as a critical link between Virginia Cities mining community and the Central Pacific Railroad.

As automobile usage increased and mining declined, the railway was eventually closed, but Holcomb Avenue's significance as a transportation hub did not.

Project Highlights

Granite Construction, Inc. in collaboration with Wood Rodgers Inc. as the design engineer, took on this $3.5 million dollar project aimed at modernizing the area while preserving its historical significance. Initially focused on roadway rehabilitation, the project was expanded to include various safety enhancements and accessibility improvements.

Key Improvements:

• ADA Improvements to sidewalks, driveways, and curb ramps

• Utility improvements to storm drain and electrical facilities

• Landscape improvements

• Realignment of the Sinclair Street intersection

• Updated signage and striping

• Pavement rehabilitation with a grind and overlay for the entire roadway

• A buffered bike lane

• A new bulb-out and RRFB at the Moran Street intersection

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Construction Management and Schedule

The project was challenging due to its impact on residents and businesses. With a combination of strategic traffic control plans and communication, the project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Community and Environmental Considerations

Communication and problem-solving were crucial in helping to alleviate commuter concerns and pain points. Granite Construction, Inc. made it a point to adjust construction to address residents' concerns, such as adjusting work hours to accommodate driveway access for residents affected by construction.

Thorough evaluations and on-site meetings were held to address concerns. Issues like mature tree roots near the construction site were handled with care, often was resolved by hand digging in order to protect root systems.

Despite summer thunderstorms, Granite effectively managed environmental protection measures and adhered to local regulations for dust control and stormwater pollution.

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Construction Management and Recognition

The paving component was the most expensive and lead to extensive research to find cost-effective approaches. For this reason, a mill and overlay option was chosen for long-term financial efficiency.

In 2023 this project was recognized for its quality, with Granite receiving the 2023 Quality In Construction Award from the National Asphalt Paving Association, highlighting the team's commitment to improving community infrastructure.

Conclusion

The RTC Holcomb Avenue Project successfully balanced modern infrastructure needs with historical preservation, enhancing safety, accessibility, and community relations.

Overview

The Jackson Avenue Complete Street Project was a key initiative in the revitalization of the Historic Westside in Las Vegas, an area known for its rich diversity, history, and community.

This project, a part of the City of Las Vegas’ Historic Urban Neighborhood Design Redevelopment Plan, aimed to transform Jackson Avenue into a safer, more accessible, and vibrant corridor for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Key Features

Jackson Avenue, more specifically the stretch between C Street and H Street, underwent significant street and streetscape improvements.

The sidewalks were widened to 15 feet and 70 trees were added for shade, along with a new irrigation system.

Intersections have been enhanced with bulb-outs to make pedestrian crossings safer and shorter, using concrete ramps.

The road itself was completely repaved and reconfigured from four lanes to two, with upgraded dual luminaire streetlights improving visibility for both pedestrians and drivers.

Shared-use bike lanes were added for bicyclists, and signage and striping were updated to enhance safety and clarity.

The project also included the installation of smart city fiber-optics conduits, replacement of waterlines, and coordination with private utility providers and adjacent property owners.

Construction Management

Under the supervision of the City of Las Vegas as the construction manager and UNICON as the contractor, this project was finished on time and under budget.

Safety was a top priority, with weekly safety meetings, progress discussions, and other meetings being used regularly to mitigate risks.

Public and worker safety was maintained throughout, and the project had a record of no lost time incidents or injuries.

Community and Environmental Considerations

Regular communication with residents and businesses in the area, along with signage to ensure business recognition and responses to public concerns, was vital to the project’s success.

A block party was hosted to celebrate the completion of the project and highlight the future potential of Jackson Avenue.

Environmental considerations were a major focus of this project. Cold pavement coverage was increased by 30%, over 70 trees suitable for arid desert climates were planted to reduce water use, and the use of energy-efficient LED lighting was installed to reduce energy consumption.

The construction team adhered to environmental regulations for dust control and stormwater pollution, with no dust fines being issued.

This project faced and overcame several challenges, including managing grading and pavement issues caused by a nearby fire and installing utilities for future businesses.

Recognition

The Jackson Avenue Complete Street Project exemplifies the City of Las Vegas’ dedication to revitalizing key areas in innovative and sustainable ways.

This project has already prompted new economic development and is expected to continue enhancing the community, making it safer, more vibrant, and accessible for residents.

In 2024, Wood Rodgers’ won the 2024 Project of the Year Award for Transportation over $5M from the Nevada chapter of the American Public Works Association for the Jackson Avenue – H Street to C Street Project.

Rich K. Wood was born on April 14^th, 1964. He grew up in Napa, CA, and attended Sacramento State between 1983 and 1987.

Sometime between 1990 and 1994, he met Mark Rodgers. They worked sitting lined up next to each other with everyone else, much like a classroom. The formality and restrictiveness of the setup didn’t sit well with Rich and Mark.

They talked about starting their own company, somewhere different than other engineering firms.

In 1996, Rich had had enough. He started his firm called RK Wood and Associates (there weren’t any associates – but it sounded nice).

Rich rented a basement office on J Street in Sacramento and sold his boat to buy a plotter. He made his money by doing consulting work for other firms.

In 1997, Mark joined Rich. Together they formed a company called – Wood Rodgers! When Rich Wood and Mark Rodgers started Wood Rodgers, they knew there was a better way to run an engineering firm: one that focused on the work, the clients, and the dedicated employees who came through the doors each day.

“Rich was my friend. I honestly have never met a person like him that had the drive, foresight intensity, charisma, and absolutely no fear of being different or taking chances. Those qualities still ring loud and clear through our Company today.” -Mark Rodgers

Rich served as president of the company from 1997 to 2009. He was never satisfied with the status quo – his life was always full of fun, exercise, and good times.

In 2009, Rich left Wood Rodgers to pursue other interests, the recession was not an option for Rich.

On March 14, 2013, Rich passed away in an accident at his home in San Francisco.

Rich was always poised on the ‘up’ arrow. He can be described as working hard and playing hard. He had an infectious grin. This stood out in how he created, formed, and led Wood Rodgers.

Rich Wood Day, celebrated on the Friday closest to his birthday (April 14), we acknowledge Rich’s contributions to our firm and remember all of the great things he and Mark started together.

Many of the things we value most here at Wood Rodgers, started when two men decided to make an engineering company that was different from the rest.

“One goal that I had when first starting the company was to create a special company. A company that was not like all the others. A company where you could wear shorts and flip-flops to work, while your suit was anxiously waiting, on a hangar behind the door. A company where things were casual, yet serious. Families, kids, and dogs were at the office all the time. The kitchen was better stocked than mine at home. We would have BBQs at lunch. We would work hard and play hard. Our office space would be comfortable, more like everyone's home. We would offer our employees freedom. How you got the job done was not as important as getting the job done. We would allow people to work from home. We would create a company of the future, not one like from the 1950’s. A company where everyone felt a little bit like an entrepreneur. The goal was to create a truly special company, different than all the rest!” — Rich Wood

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The Full Circle Journey

On January 28th, 2024, Craig Spiess began his role as a Senior Associate at Wood Rodgers. Craig is no stranger to the company. In fact, Craig worked for Wood Rodgers for over 14 years.

For Craig working for an engineering company is in his blood. He started out working for his dad as a civil engineer, but something wasn’t right. He ended up finding his calling in land surveying.

In 1999, after his dad retired and his mentor came to work for Wood Rodgers, Craig followed and found his way here for the first time.

He credits this mentor as being the person who taught him everything he knows and helped him achieve one of his greatest accomplishments – becoming a licensed surveyor.

Craig felt the call to go back to his roots. In 2013 he left Wood Rodgers to head the survey department of the company that he had always associated with his dad and where he started his career. After, a few years he realized it was time to move on.

“They just weren’t running it the way my dad used to run it. The way it historically used to be run. I wanted to take the survey department in a certain direction. They didn’t want that. So, I just thought life is too short and I’ll move on…. And then the position opened up here in Roseville. So, Mike Motroni and a couple of others contacted me and asked me to come back… So, I am back at Wood Rodgers where I basically had my best working experience.”

‍“Take Your Time to Learn the Basics” – Craig Spiess, PLS

Surveyors see things most people don’t get to. The job is essential to engineering as it allows us to know the specific measurements of the shape and contours of the earth's surface before we begin a project.

This means they get to see the full construction process take place - seeing the blank slate before any blueprints are even drawn up to seeing the completion of a project.

This is Craig's favorite part of the job – seeing houses get built on his projects.

More than anything else, Craig is a mentor to others. He says his biggest accomplishment other than getting his own license is helping other surveyors get theirs.

“Just seeing how people have grown and become better people personally outside of work, inside of work, professionally, and everything like that, that’s probably been the most rewarding.

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More About Craig

Craig Spiess is a California licensed Professional Land Surveyor with 31 years of experience in public and private sectors, commercial, and residential projects. His private sector work includes boundary retracement and subdivision work as it relates to land development. His work experience includes preparation, processing, and reviewing Records of Surveys, Parcel Maps, Subdivision Maps, Boundary Line Adjustments, Certificates of Compliance, Condominium Plans, and ALTA Surveys throughout Northern California. He performs and provides project management and coordination with local agencies for entitlement, mapping, planning, and surveying issues. Craig has regularly supervised field crews and provided support with survey calculations, solving field problems, and scheduling field crews with clients and construction contractors.

This year, we are thrilled to announce the promotion of six employees to the Associate level. Additionally, we have introduced a new tier, Senior Associate, and we are proud to share that fifteen employees have been promoted in this inaugural group of Senior Associates. We are incredibly excited to recognize these individuals for their dedication and hard work. Join us in celebrating their well-deserved accomplishments!

Associates

1. Craig Hensley | Senior Proposal Specialist |Sacramento

2. Rebecca Plant, PE | Project Engineer |Pleasanton

3. Hanalei Pruter | Assistant Controller | Orange

4. Jason Roberts | Marketing Manager | Roseville

5. Lorenzo Sanchez | Senior CAD Supervisor | Las Vegas

6. Alan Wong, PE | Project Engineer | Sacramento

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Senior Associates

1. Tim Chamberlain | Principal Planner | Sacramento

2. Eddie Gosse, ME | Principal Engineer |Sacramento

3. Stacie Huggins | Principal Planner | Reno

4. Anthony Johnson, PE, SE | Principal Engineer |Roseville

5. Vance Jones | Principal Planner | Roseville

6. Shane Lynch, PE | Principal Engineer |Sacramento

7.  Mike Nowlan, PE, CFM | Principal Engineer |Sacramento

8.  Harvey Oslick, PE, CFM, CPSWQ, Env SP |Principal Engineer | Roseville

9.  Megan Overton, PE, LEED | Principal Engineer |Reno

10. Paul Petrowsky, PE | Director of Design Technology | Sacramento

11. Jason Reed, PE | Principal Engineer | Roseville

12. Steven Robinson, PE, TE | Principal Engineer |Roseville

13. Mickey Smith, PE, GE | Principal Engineer |Reno

14. Sean Spaeth, PG, PHG | Principal Hydrogeologist| Roseville

15. Sheng Tan, GISP | Director of GIS | Sacramento

Wood Rodgers is pleased to announce that Jason Lemons, PE has joined our team as Principal Engineer and will lead our transportation engineering efforts in Orange County and the surrounding region. With 23 years of experience in engineering, leadership, and business development, we believe Jason will help us continue to achieve our mission of providing exceptional service to our clients and creating long-term value for society through our work.

Wood Rodgers is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Hughes, PE as a Principal in our Roseville Water Flood & Drainage team. With over 35 years of experience managing large and complex design and construction projects, Michael brings a wealth of expertise to the team. His areas of specialization include landslide investigation and remediation, slope stability analysis, natural terrain hazard assessment, transportation, water resources, wastewater, and flood management.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Wood Rodgers team to expand the services we provide clients and to mentor the next generation of Water Resources professionals to grow Wood Rodgers’ capabilities into the future.”

– Michael Hughes, PE

Wood Rodgers has recently been selected by Placer County to lead the SR89 and SR267 Corridor Strategic Implementation and Phasing Plan. This plan is aimed at advancing the Resort Triangle Transportation Plan vision by transitioning it into a more comprehensive plan for continued project development within the Caltrans system. Wood Rodgers is proud to bring its highly skilled and adaptable team to the forefront of this effort, working towards a solution for the persistent and burgeoning recreational congestion in the area.

In collaboration with esteemed team members such as Mark Thomas, HDR, Kittelson & Associates, Ascent Environmental, and Monument, Wood Rodgers has assembled a group of experts with a wealth of collective experience and deep knowledge of the Tahoe Basin. Together, this dynamic team is committed to delivering the adaptability and expertise needed to successfully bring this project to fruition for the benefit of residents and visitors of Placer County, the Town of Truckee, and Lake Tahoe.

Learn more here: https://www.sierrasun.com/news/placer-county-commissions-plan-for-north-lake-tahoe-highway-transit-improvements/

We have a new addition to our team in Orange! Pranesh Tarikere, TE has joined Wood Rodgers to help grow our Transportation/Traffic services throughout the Southern California area.

Mr. Tarikere has over 19 years of experience in transportation planning, traffic engineering, and traffic analysis, serving as a consultant for private land development clients and public agencies in Southern California.

If you have any transportation needs in southern California reach out to us at info@woodrodgers.com

We have some great news! James Springgate is our Reno office's first Nevada State Water Rights Surveyor! Which means we can now do water rights survey maps and applications.

Here are some services we can now offer:

• New water rights appropriations for development
• Transfer of water rights between owners, uses, or adding additional rights to existing ones.
• Changing points of diversion for uses, conveyances, or points of return.
• Impoundment of water for large detention or retention ponds.
• Mining development, mine remediation, and mining in general.
• Jurisdictional work regarding canals, irrigation ditches, and other man-made conveyances.
• Proof of completion of work, or proof of beneficial use.

This is just another way that we can deliver exceptional results to our clients!

Email us at info@woodrodgers.com for more information

We are pleased to share the exciting news that Wood Rodgers has been chosen by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada to provide traffic study and outreach services for the rapidly expanding area surrounding the Nellis Air Force Base (AFB). Thanks to a Department of Defense grant this study will play a pivotal role in addressing the present and future challenges associated with the AFB’s growth and the dynamic development taking place adjacent to the base.

Building upon our successful completion of the Northeast Valley Transportation Network study, we possess invaluable institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of the pertinent issues, which seamlessly transitions to the current Nellis AFB Traffic Study. Collaborating with HDR, we have assembled an exceptional team with unparalleled expertise and experience to support the expansion of one of the nation’s most significant air force bases.