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Woodside council backs petition asking Caltrans to set 35 mph on a stretch of Highway 84
Summary
Following resident petitions and circulation-committee work, the council voted to request Caltrans establish a consistent 35 mph limit on State Highway 84 between Churchill and Moore to improve safety near Woodside High and several neighborhoods; staff warned of the 85th‑percentile speed study risk and will tailor the request to minimize unintended outcomes.
The Woodside Town Council on Jan. 13 unanimously approved a resolution asking the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to establish a consistent 35‑mile‑per‑hour speed limit on State Highway 84 from Churchill Road to Moore Road.
The request followed presentations from circulation‑committee and homeowner‑association representatives, including Dan Druker, who said neighborhood petitioning produced more than 140 responses with 100% positive support for a reduced limit. Speakers cited a past fatality in the corridor, frequent speeding (drivers sometimes reaching 60 mph downhill), and limited visibility at several left‑turn points near Woodside High School and Menlo Country Club.
Staff and residents noted that Caltrans typically uses an 85th‑percentile speed analysis when setting limits, which can risk raising posted speeds where observed driving speeds are high; council discussion therefore narrowed the request to the short Churchill–Moore segment to avoid an unintended county‑wide increase. Council also linked the speed‑limit request to concurrent projects: the proposed median parkway and planned bicycle/pedestrian safety improvements, arguing the package would provide visual cues and infrastructure to encourage lower speeds.
Council directed staff to submit the petition and resolution to Caltrans and to continue working with circulation committee members and Caltrans staff (who are scheduled to appear at the circulation meeting next month) to assemble supporting safety data and design cues to strengthen the town’s case.
What happens next: staff will forward the council‑endorsed petition and resolution to Caltrans, continue coordination with circulation and public‑safety partners, and prepare any supporting data Caltrans requests for its evaluation.
