City crews in Dallas have begun removing rainbow-painted crosswalks following a statewide directive requiring compliance with standard roadway markings. The effort affects 30 crosswalks, including several in the Oak Lawn neighborhood, after the Texas Department of Transportation determined the designs violated traffic safety guidelines. The city had requested an exemption, but it was denied, prompting a plan to bring all crosswalks into compliance within 90 days, with completion expected by the end of April.
The crosswalks, originally funded through private donations exceeding $128,000, were maintained by local organizations. State officials cited the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and warned that failure to comply could risk transportation funding.
“Let’s be clear — these crosswalks are being removed at a time when [LGBT] visibility is being challenged across Texas,” said Tony Vedda, president of the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
The directive follows an order from Gov. Greg Abbott requiring the removal of political imagery from roadways. Meanwhile, Dallas has allowed one church to retain its rainbow-painted steps temporarily.
