Plumas County supervisors on Oct. 7 paused a proposal to close Court Street in Quincy and directed county staff to coordinate with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol on safety measures while Caltrans refines plans for Highway 70 improvements.

The matter drew a lengthy public debate and a written submission from resident Deb Hopkins, who urged the board to review a 2021 Federal Highway Administration study on intersection angle and highway safety before deciding whether to close Court Street. Hopkins’ letter warned of potential county liability if the intersection remained open despite identified hazards.

Public Works Director Rob Thorman told the board his office had commissioned a full traffic study after the Transportation Commission recommended examining both a full closure and a partial closure (right-turn-only). “The level of service for the surrounding roads would not be affected by closing off Court Street,” Thorman said, describing the consultant work and community outreach. He also said the online survey results were mixed: 20 respondents opposed closure, 16 favored closure and 15 responses fell into an “other” category.

Residents who spoke during public comment urged the board to hold off on closure. Several said they observed no crash data for the site and questioned the process that led to the proposal. A representative of the California Highway Patrol, Brian Patterson, offered to provide crash statistics and told the board, “We can provide any data that you may need to the best of our abilities.” Other commenters raised concerns about impacts to parking, downtown businesses and evacuation routes for nearby neighborhoods.

Supervisors noted that Caltrans is preparing a paving and right-of-way project on Highway 70 and said timing with Caltrans’ design work made the issue time-sensitive. After discussion, the board voted to take no immediate closure action and instead directed Public Works to continue coordinating with Caltrans, CHP and other stakeholders and to report back with any additional data or design options.

The board’s direction was procedural rather than a final policy decision: staff was asked to verify crash records, confirm Caltrans’ schedule and explore nonclosure mitigation options (signage, crosswalk placement, other traffic-calming measures) before any closure is considered. No ordinance or formal property action was adopted at the meeting.

What happens next: Public Works will follow up with Caltrans on whether the agency’s upcoming Highway 70 design can accommodate changes related to Court Street. The board asked staff to return with relevant crash data and Caltrans’ response before considering any formal action on closure.