ELYRIA — Residents along Burns Road are asking city officials for additional speeding enforcement and traffic safety measures as Elyria moves forward with plans for a long-discussed sidewalk and multi-use path project.

During Monday’s meeting of Elyria City Council, Dave and Julie McFarland addressed council to thank the city for pursuing the project while also describing what they called dangerous speeding conditions along the roadway.

“My intention first and foremost is to thank you guys for the project,” Dave McFarland told council. “The sidewalks are well needed.”

McFarland described children walking near steep drop-offs and narrow sections of roadway where drivers often travel at high speeds. The couple said the issue becomes especially concerning during warmer months when more children and families are outside.

Julie McFarland told council she regularly sees drivers traveling well above the posted 25 mph speed limit and said visibility issues near parts of the roadway make crossing the street difficult.

“They just go so fast,” she said. “I think the worst offenders are the tow trucks that go through there.”

She also thanked Elyria police officers who conducted traffic enforcement in the area last summer, saying officers quickly pulled over multiple speeders during patrols.

Project timeline and future challenges

City Engineer John Schneider said the Burns Road sidewalk and multi-use path project is currently in the engineering phase, with the city seeking letters of interest for design work.

According to Schneider, construction is tentatively targeted for 2028, although the timeline could move faster depending on right-of-way acquisition and federal approval requirements tied to nearby park property.

“We think there might be right-of-way requirements that we have to touch on, especially where the culvert is,” Schneider said during the meeting.

Mayor Kevin Brubaker said the project originated through a grant program associated with Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Brubaker added that he plans to discuss the project directly with DeWine during an upcoming trip to Columbus in hopes of helping move the process forward.

City responds to speeding concerns

Safety Service Director Chris Pyanowski said the city would deploy temporary speed-monitoring signs along Burns Road for at least 30 days and review the corridor for additional traffic-safety improvements.

“We’ll take a look at that stretch of Burns from Gulf to Abbey,” Pyanowski said.

Several council members also discussed potential long-term solutions during the meeting, including additional signage, flashing speed displays and continued police enforcement in the area.

Councilman Phillip Tollett credited city engineering staff and the administration for helping secure outside funding for the project.

Julie McFarland said the issue may seem small compared with other matters before the city, but for families living along Burns Road, it remains a major safety concern.

“This seems kind of like something small, but to us, it’s a really big deal,” McFarland told council.

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