The Tucson City Council voted Tuesday to limit vehicle access to “A” Mountain, a plan that’s been under discussion since a 73-year-old bicyclist was killed last year by a suspected drunken driver in the city park.
The largest change under a six-month pilot program will be a ban on cars and trucks on “A” Mountain on Mondays. Traffic on Mondays will be limited to pedestrians and cyclists.
During the rest of the week, vehicles will be allowed on the mountain, also known as Sentinel Peak, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The decision to restrict the hours largely impacts traffic during the morning, as the park currently opens at 9 a.m. every day.
The new hours and the Monday ban on vehicle traffic are expected to start on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The decision by the council follows intensive discussions between city officials and neighborhood groups who have complained for years about traffic and noise at the landmark.
Calls for action peaked last year after cyclist Richard E. Ellwanger was killed in a crash near the top of the mountain. Police say Ellwanger was wearing a helmet and was riding the correct way when a driver, 20-year-old Yanibra Moreno, crashed into him. Moreno was driving on the wrong side of the road, police said.
According to a complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court in October 2018, Moreno had a blood alcohol content of 0.40 at the time of the incident, five times the legal limit of .08.
A total of 173 separate incidents on Sentinel Peak were reported to police within a six-month period last year.
City officials are expected to collect data on the pilot program and make recommendations to the council about whether to modify the traffic restrictions sometime next spring.
GALLERY: "A" Mountain through the years
Photos: Tucson's 'A' Mountain through the years
"A" Mountain seen behind the Pima County Courthouse on Sept. 21, 1957.
"A" Mountain is repainted on Nov. 19, 1986, after ASU students painted it ASU school colors before the ASU-UA football game.
Hang glider Jim Eskildsen at the base of "A" Mountain after making a 100-mile flight from Tempe, Ariz. on March 11, 1978.
Tucson's "A" Mountain on August 17, 1930 looking southwest.
Nicky Allmaras, 18, and Brian Bobb, 27, sit at an overlook on "A" Mountain, Aug. 24, 1996.
Fireworks explode over downtown Tucson during the annual fireworks show on July 4, 1996.
"A" Mountain or Sentinel Peak as seen from the air on May 20, 2005.
A banner against HB 2281, which bans ethnic studies, covers the blue portion of the A atop "A" Mountain in Tucson, Ariz., Thursday July 29, 2010.
The “A” on A Mountain is lit with flares signaling the start of University of Arizona Homecoming week in Tucson on Oct. 22, 2017.
"A" Mountain's signature letter was painted red and displayed "#RedForEd" in support of statewide teacher walkouts in April 2018 to support more funding for public education.
The large "A" at the top of Sentinel Peak was painted the color red as seen on April 30, 2018.
"A" Mountain was brightly lit by members of the Bobcats, a senior honorary club that is housed by the Alumni Association at the University of Arizona, as homecoming activities commenced in November 2014.
A young couple takes in monsoonal cloud sunset over the Tucson Mountains as they endure gusty updrafts at a lookout on Sentinel Peak on July 18, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz.
The views of and around Sentinel Peak, otherwise known as "A" Mountain on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. The coloring of the "A" has changed over time, ranging from black to green and the patriotic red, white and blue scheme.
The views of and around Sentinel Peak, otherwise known as "A" Mountain on Friday, April 12, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. The coloring of the "A" has changed over time, ranging from black to green and the patriotic red, white and blue scheme.
The "A" on Sentinel Peak in Tucson, Ariz., decorated with a peace symbol on March 28, 2003. The day before, some city council members and more than 100 participants painted the "A", red, white and blue against Mayor Bob Walkup's objections. People were discovered today painting it all white again when those who painted it yesterday threatened to return with their colors when police closed the mountain.
Taken from west side of the Tucson Community Center looking west on Sept. 16, 1998. Photo by Jim Davis.
The wearing of the green began a wee early on March 16, 1998, as "A" Mountain was coated with a green layer of paint before St Patrick's Day.
The "A" Mountain "A" is sporting green on March 15, 1999 after its annual paint job for St. Patrick's Day.
Brichta Gas Station, 141 S. Stone Ave., lower left, with St. Augustine Cathedral and "A" Mountain behind circa 1920. Courtesy Lorraine Aguilar.
The rock-and-concrete that adorns Mountain got a patriotic paint job in September 2001 following the 9-11 attacks. Blue and red were added to the letter's traditional white as a show of support for the United States during a time of crisis. University of Arizona student Sarah Burns came up with the idea, the Home Depot pitched in the paint, and more than 60 volunteers provided the labor.
A car passes by the green "A" on Sentinel Peak on April 3, 2008 in Tucson, Ariz.
With "A" Mountain in the background, construction personnel work on the structure for a new entrance for the Tucson Convention Center on Jan. 14, 2010.
Tucson's "A" Mountain becomes white again from the top down on March 26, 2003 after an anti-war group painted it black. A-O Painting Inc. painted the A with 60 gallons of white paint, which cost the city $3,750.
Wren Keller scans the skies as he stands in the middle of the "A" on "A" Mountain with his Canon camera and 300 mm lens as he hopes for a view of the space shuttle Endeavour as it flies over the University of Arizona in Tucson Ariz., on its way to the west coast on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.
Daniel McKenzie of The Paint Kings, sprays about 30 gallons of blue paint to paint the top part of "A" Mountain on Sentinel Peak, Friday, March 26, 2004 in Tucson, AZ, after the City Council decided to keep the "A" patriotic until the Iraq conflict is over. With 30 gallons of blue paint, 20 gallons of white, and 40 gallons of red, the "A" took about two hours to paint.
Traffic along "A" Mountain is snarled around the whole peak as spectators hope for a view of the space shuttle Endeavour as it flies over the University of Arizona in Tucson Ariz., on its way to the west coast on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012.
Angela Gonzales, a Gamma Alpha Omega sorority member, re-paints the A on "A" Mountain, Saturday April 27, 2002 in Tucson, Ariz.
Gerardo Torres, left, and Fred Huang, both Omega Delta Phi fraternity members, re-paint the A on "A" Mountain with other fraternity and sorority members on April 27, 2002 in Tucson, Ariz.
Two sororities and one fraternity helped re-paint the A on "A" Mountain on April 27, 2002 in Tucson, Ariz.
Painting the red of the red, white, and blue, Thursday, March 27, 2003, is Steve Castro of Steve Castro Painting, on "A" Mountain in Tucson, Ariz. Castro came out as part of the re-painting of the "A" with listeners of WKRQ, whose morning deejays, John Jay and Rich, organized the event. All of the paint was donated by Dunn-Edwards Paints.
Marty Harkins, left, and Chris Encinas take in the hazy view from "A" Mountain as high winds spread dust around in Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009.
Pima Community College students Don Hargrove and Jack Schwarzel talking in the ramada on "A" Mountain as they watch the sunset Nov. 21, 1996.
The former Levy's store, now the city hall annex, is on left, with "A" Mountain in the background.
Faustino Mendez helps his son Alejandro, 4, hold binoculars as they enjoy the view from "A" Mountain on Nov. 28, 1999.
Fireworks at "A" Mountain on July 4, 1995.
Green paint lies on top of red paint on Sentinel Peak on April 3, 2008 in Tucson, Ariz. Permits to paint the "A" are supposed to include guarantees it will be restored to its previous condition after special events, in this case, St. Patrick's Day.
Six-year-old Amy Cranford, does her part painting blue on the lower portion of the "A" on Sentinel Peak on Sept. 16, 2001. She and her family were among more than 60 volunteers painting the top red and the lower portion blue.
Joe Molina, far left, works on clearing a big rock off a trail on "A" Mountain on April 2, 2010. Long-term plans include a shaded structure at the top, benches, and the improvements to the trail.
Julie Steele, 20, a Theta Nu Xi Sorority member, helps out members of the Omega Delta Phi Fraternity paint the "A" on Sentinel Peak after ASU supporters painted the "A" in their school's colors the weekend of the UA vs ASU football game, Dec. 7, 2002.
Members of the Omega Delta Phi Fraternity paint the "A" on Sentinel Peak after ASU supporters painted the A in their school's colors the weekend of the UA vs ASU football game, Dec. 7, 2002.
People carry the cross during the 39th Annual Procession of Holy Friday up Sentinel Peak on April 6, 2007 in Tucson, Ariz. Parishioners made the walk up the hill while doing the stations of the cross with different people carrying the cross at every stop.
Fireworks during the "A" Mountain July Fourth Fireworks show in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday July 4, 2009.
The Tucson Origins archaeological dig at the base of "A" Mountain on April 13, 2007. Field crew members Stan Granger and Gene Espinosa of Desert Archaeology, Inc., investigate an early agricultural pithouse from 100 or 200 B.C.
Jorge Castillo, 15, fastens part of a banner placed on "A" Mountain by students from Aztlan Academy and César Chávez Middle School on Oct. 27, 2006.
"A" Mountain on March 26, 2004 in Tucson, Ariz., after the City Council decided to keep the "A" patriotic until the Iraq conflict is over. With 30 gallons of blue paint, 20 gallons of white, and 40 gallons of red, the "A" took about two hours to paint.
