Dallas, Texas officials are asking Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa to reverse a state directive that forced the city to remove decorative crosswalks, including rainbow designs in Oak Lawn and Black Lives Matter markings in Fair Park.
City Council member Chad West sent a memo this week to City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert requesting that staff contact Hinojosa’s office to seek reconsideration of the 2025 Texas Department of Transportation order.
The request covers about 30 crosswalks in council districts 7 and 14 that were removed after the state threatened to withhold transportation funding. West, who represents the Oak Lawn area, cited community value and evidence that the designs improved safety compared with standard markings.
The city removed the crosswalks in March and April 2026 after TxDOT denied Dallas’ request for an exemption. Governor Greg Abbott had directed the agency in 2025 to eliminate what he described as political messaging and distractions on public roadways.
Dallas officials said the markings were privately funded, posed no measurable safety risk, and reflected neighborhood identity. The city complied only after the state set a firm deadline and warned that noncompliance could jeopardize state and federal road money.
Residents and business groups in Oak Lawn had previously raised private funds to install and later modify the rainbow crosswalks to better meet roadway standards. After the removals, some nearby properties, including steps at the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, were painted with rainbow colors on private land as an alternative welcome sign.
West told FOX 4 that Tolbert supports the outreach and that he has received only supportive feedback from constituents. He said the change in state leadership offers a chance to restore the designs and that the community, including LGBTQ residents and allies, is expected to back the effort. Hinojosa is scheduled to be sworn in as governor on January 19.
The Dallas Morning News reported that West described the rainbow crosswalks on Cedar Springs as a visible sign of inclusion. No response from Hinojosa’s office has been reported.
