Trinity Transit Plan Flags Unsafe Burnt Ranch Bus Stop on Highway 299, Calls for Priority Improvements

TRINITY VILLAGE, Calif. — A county transportation planning report has identified a bus stop serving the Burnt Ranch area as a priority for safety improvements, pointing to the difficulty of using public transit along rural State Route 299.

The Trinity County Short Range Transit Development Plan for fiscal years 2026–27 through 2030–31, prepared May 6, 2026, describes the eastbound Burnt Ranch Post Office stop, near Hennessey Road and Highway 299, as unusually difficult for passengers.

Why the stop appears on the priority list

The report describes a 55-mph roadway, no crosswalk or lighting, and very little safe space to wait off the road. These conditions can create challenges for people using mobility devices and for bus operators trying to identify waiting passengers.

Planners place the eastbound Burnt Ranch Post Office stop, both directions at Burnt Ranch Store, the eastbound stop at Hawkins Bar and both directions at Big Bar Ranger Station among locations that should be prioritized for upgrades. These are planning recommendations, not confirmation that construction is underway.

A suggested solution: make waiting riders visible

One survey participant suggested a simple indicator or flag that passengers could raise to signal a bus. The study also discusses providing a safer pullout or waiting area. It says a bus pullout was being planned at Burnt Ranch Store as part of a Caltrans overlay project.

Coordination is not straightforward because many transit stops sit within state highway rights-of-way. Even a stop sign or shelter can require a Caltrans encroachment permit. The report suggests planning improvements alongside state roadwork to reduce costs and avoid repeated permitting.

What residents can do now

Passengers should not assume a new shelter, crossing or flag system is currently installed. Contact Trinity County Transportation Commission or Trinity Transit for the latest stop instructions and service schedules. Use extra care when waiting near high-speed traffic, particularly after dark.

Illustrative photo: Osman Icli / Unsplash. This is not the bus stop at Burnt Ranch Post Office.

Sources: Trinity County Transportation Commission, Short Range Transit Development Plan, May 2026, pp. 53–54; Trinity County Plans and Reports.

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