The Woodside Town Council voted to approve a maintenance agreement with the California Department of Transportation that will allow the town to accept an $800,000 federal grant for bike and pedestrian improvements along Highway 84 (Woodside Road).

Town Manager Jason Ledbetter told the council the agreement would create a long‑term maintenance obligation for the town and that changing the design at this stage risks returning the project to Caltrans and losing the grant. "We are asking Caltrans to approve the $800,000 bike and pedestrian improvement project along Hwy 84," Ledbetter said, adding that the town must be careful because "this money has to get billed back by 12/31/2027." Deputy town engineer Cindy McCullough said engineering plans are roughly 90% complete and that changes after encroachment‑permit approval would require resubmission to Caltrans.

Residents and committee members urged the council to reconsider elements of the design. Steve Lubin, a circulation committee member, said engineers had not sufficiently matched drawings to existing field conditions and warned the plan would ‘‘rip out a half a mile of curb that Caltrans had just put in’’ and increase long‑term maintenance obligations. John Langbein and other residents said there was room to build a pedestrian path outside the paved area, potentially lowering cost and maintenance. Cyclists pressed for wider lanes: "The 5 foot width of the proposed bike lane is, in my opinion, wholly inadequate," one longtime cyclist told the council.

Supporters of the project, including East‑of‑280 homeowners and the circulation committee, said the funded project would create a safe connection to the town center and Woodside High School and that losing the federal grant would be a major setback. Dan Drucker, representing several HOAs east of 280, said the project is not perfect but "better than nothing" and would help children walk and bike to school.

Council members balanced safety and urgency. Several members said they did not want to lose the federal funds and were comfortable approving maintenance while directing staff to ask Caltrans whether minor, non‑funding‑jeopardizing design changes were possible. The council approved the item by roll call vote.

Council requested staff report back at the first meeting in January with any responses from Caltrans about whether modest design revisions would be feasible within the grant timeline. If Caltrans reports no flexibility, the town will proceed with the planned design to preserve the $800,000 grant.

The council approved the maintenance agreement on a roll‑call vote.