Delaware · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Delaware public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Four Seasons at Addison Farms Traffic Calming Petition
About 250 senior households say Heritage Boulevard has become a dangerous high-speed cut-through splitting their 55+ community, and they want radar signs, pedestrian refuge islands, and raised crosswalks. They also object to a youth playground and connector path routed into their senior neighborhood.
Pennsylvania Ave./Euclid Ave. All-Way Stop
Six crashes in twelve months and tough school-hour pedestrian crossings at Pennsylvania and Euclid prompted an interim four-way stop, possibly installed before the end of the year. A mini roundabout may be considered long-term.
Firestone Drive Speed Hump Removal and Speed Feedback Signs
$30,000 is budgeted for 2027 to expand the city's toolkit for neighborhood speeding complaints — radar boxes, feedback trailers and possibly notice-only cameras. The chief stressed data-driven decisions, since many 'speeding' complaints turn out to be traffic volume problems.
Heritage Blvd./Rutherford Ave. All-Way Stop
The Heritage/Rutherford intersection will become a four-way stop with flashing LED signs for the first year, responding to neighborhood complaints and part of the Four Seasons petition. Build-out and the Merrick Boulevard extension are expected to further calm the corridor.
East Central Avenue reconstruction grant application
One more round of disruptions: on October 8 contractors will lift steel girders off the temporary railroad bridge, pausing traffic five minutes at a time in both directions.
Thoroughfare Plan update
The city rolled out its draft 2026–2050 thoroughfare plan update with a new interactive online comment map. New additions include US 42 widening and US 23 corridor improvements; public comment runs through end of November before adoption.
Delaware County Transit sales tax proposal
DCT is asking voters for a 0.2% sales tax this November to fund big expansion: microtransit in Powell and Orange Township, express commuter routes, seven-day service in Delaware, and same-day demand response countywide.
SR 37 resurfacing
The city is partnering with ODOT to resurface State Route 37 from the western boundary to Troy Road, with Delaware paying about $330,000 of the cost.
West Central CSX railroad bridge clearance
The city is pressing CSX to raise or replace the low bridge on West Central, where trucks keep striking it. A $6.3 million road-lowering project is on the books as a fallback, but CSX has loosely committed to a feasibility visit this fall.
Sandusky Street road diet study
A city study found narrowing Sandusky Street from four/five lanes to three would still handle traffic at level-of-service C through 2050 — and could buy room for wider sidewalks, parking or bike lanes downtown. No project is approved yet, but the findings could shape a future streetscape and where Columbia Gas puts new mains. At least one commissioner, speaking as a resident, opposed the concept.
Underfunded sidewalks, paths, and parking lots
The city's complaint-driven sidewalk repair program has fixed nearly 25,000 square feet of sidewalk in two years, mostly damage from street trees, and will grow to $225,000 across three cycles in 2027 to reduce trip-and-fall injuries.
Completed Street and Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Snappy's developer pushed back on being forced to build an 11-foot multi-use path to nowhere on Liberty Road, calling it a $20,000 expense with no connections. The commission softened the condition and will let staff and the applicant hash out the right approach.
Nutter Parkway funding and city public image
A repeat commenter argued the Nutter Parkway extension only serves Kroger, that taxpayers will reimburse Kroger's road costs, and that the city has a public-image problem — suggesting council show up at First Fridays and stop overusing emergency clauses.
Airport taxi lane paving grant
Commissioner Stevenson noted the Delaware County Airport gets zero funding from the county, even as the county spends millions elsewhere. He asked for project figures and said he'd advocate with the county for help.
Lake Street No Parking zone
The city wants to stripe a southbound left turn lane into the Flats at Sugar Run development, which means eliminating on-street parking in front of eight homes on the west side of Lake Street. Residents say the parking is their safety buffer for turning into driveways on a busy US 42; staff say the spaces are barely used and every home has off-street parking. The committee is now proposing a one-year delay before final striping.
Street and alley vacations (OWU campus and Jane Road)
Council vacated the OWU-only section of Hayes Street (saving about $50,000 in maintenance) and the never-built Jane Road paper street, turning both over to private ownership while preserving utility easements.
TIF-funded road improvements (roundabout, Kroger roads, ice arena roads)
Council authorized grant chasing for the Glenn Parkway extension, East Central Avenue phase two, and long-range US 42 widening, plus land buys so the Kroger-funded roundabout can start in June.
New traffic signal at Glenn and Sunbury Roads
Glen Road will close for about 60 days starting July 20 for roundabout construction, and a new traffic signal at Glen Road and SR 36/37 will come online when the closure ends.