Title
Phoenix Heritage Commission Recommendation for Naming Shared Use Path
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, for approval of the Phoenix Heritage Commission recommendation for naming a shared use path adjacent to the Congressman Ed Pastor/South Mountain Freeway.
Report
Summary
As part of the new 22-mile Congressman Ed Pastor/South Mountain Freeway in the City of Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) committed to build a six-mile shared use path south of the Loop 202 freeway in Ahwatukee. The 20-foot wide shared use path is located between 40th Street and 17th Avenue on the former Pecos Road, which was removed as part of the freeway construction. This stretch of Pecos Road had been used by groups of high-speed cyclists for training purposes. It had also been used by various organizations such as the Arizona Senior Olympics for their cycling events. This new facility is located within ADOT right-of-way and will be maintained by the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department.
On Nov. 12, 2014, Mr. Highly Falkner was struck and killed by an impaired driver while cycling on Pecos Road. Mr. Falkner was an accomplished cyclist who was active in the southeast valley community. After his death, the cycling community came together to continue his legacy of improving bicycling infrastructure and advocating for safer cycling facilities. The community placed a “ghost bike” at the location of the accident. A ghost bike is a bicycle roadside memorial, placed where a cyclist has been killed or severely injured, usually by a motor vehicle. The ghost bike had to be removed for freeway construction.
Approximately three years ago, Mr. Falkner’s wife approached City staff and Council District 6 about finding a way to remember Highly and his accomplishments. After looking at various options, it was determined that naming the new shared use path facility after Mr. Falkner would be an appropriate legacy for the Falkner family and the cycling community who advocated for ADOT to build the shared use path.
On May 18, 2020, the Phoenix Heritage Commission voted unanimously to name the new facility the “Highly Falkner Shared Use Path.” The Heritage Commission Name Proposal Application included a biography of Highly Falkner and his philanthropic work, support documents from his wife and children, as well as petitions, letters and emails from community members and cyclists who support the naming of the shared use path in his honor.
Location
The shared use path is located between 40th Street and 17th Avenue on the former Pecos Road which was removed as part of the freeway construction.
Council District: 6
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the City Manager’s Office.