Delaware City committee backs all-way stop at Park and South Franklin after safety study and parent testimony

The Delaware City Parking and Safety Committee voted 3-0 on Feb. 25, 2025, to recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution establishing an all-way stop at the intersection of Park Avenue and South Franklin Street.

Parents, preschool staff and Ohio Wesleyan University representatives told the committee they have observed repeated speeding and multiple near-misses at the crosswalk by the university’s Early Childhood Center (ECC), including an accident during morning drop-off the prior week. Kelly Hall, director of the ECC at Ohio Wesleyan University, said the center has logged “several accidents right in front of the center” in the past two years and urged an all-way stop to protect preschool children.

The committee’s engineering staff summarized findings from a standard traffic warrant analysis. Staff said the intersection did not meet volume-based warrants for a stop sign, but speed measurements showed 85th-percentile speeds that exceeded tolerance by more than 5 mph, with 85th-percentile speeds observed in the low 30s on Park Avenue. Staff also reported direct observations of motorists failing to yield to pedestrians legally in the crosswalk. For those reasons, and citing engineering judgment because of the number of small children and families crossing to and from ECC, staff recommended the all-way stop and signage enhancements.

Bill (Public Works/Engineering staff) told the committee the city will remove some street trees blocking pedestrian signage, install enhanced crosswalk and “new stop sign ahead” warnings, and—if the stop condition is approved—initially install the stop signs with flashing beacons for at least one year to alert habitual drivers to the change. Staff said they will work with ECC and Ohio Wesleyan on outreach to families to emphasize that the new signs do not guarantee immediate compliance by all motorists.

Committee members asked about adding school-zone flashers and enforcement. Staff said local code limits eligibility for school-zone flashers and that daycare-only facilities typically do not qualify; staff will re-check the code but did not commit to flashing school-zone beacons. Police said they would try to increase officer presence during drop-off and pick-up times “as best we can,” subject to staffing and other calls for service.

The motion to recommend the resolution to Council was moved and seconded by committee members; roll call votes were Ms. Fraser: Yes; Mr. Reiter: Yes; Chairman Schaffer: Yes. The resolution will advance to City Council for final action.

The committee also discussed limiting parking near the crosswalk. Staff said current no-parking rules already prohibit parking too close to crosswalks (20 feet is the cited distance); staff will first remove the obstructing trees and relocate signs and then evaluate whether additional no-parking strips are needed — a parking change would require separate notice to impacted property owners and a council action.

The committee directed staff to include the full sign-and-marking package with the legislative submittal to Council and to coordinate timing and outreach with ECC and Ohio Wesleyan.

Ending: The committee’s unanimous recommendation moves the proposed all-way stop to City Council. Staff emphasized supplemental measures — tree removal, enhanced signage, temporary flashing beacons and outreach — will accompany the legislative request, and the police department said it would attempt targeted enforcement during peak school drop-off and pick-up times.