Dallas crews started removing the city's 30 decorative crosswalks Monday morning - including rainbow Pride designs in Oak Lawn and Black Lives Matter markings in South Dallas - after months of failed appeals against a state directive ordering the change.
The Transportation and Public Works Department began the removal and replacement process Monday, starting at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue, with work timed to coincide with a planned resurfacing project in the area to minimize traffic disruption. The full removal of all 30 crosswalks and installation of compliant replacements is expected to be complete by April 28.
The standoff between Dallas and state officials dates back to October 2025. The conflict began Oct. 8, 2025, when Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the removal of "political" road markings statewide, arguing the non-standard designs violate Texas road uniformity standards and could distract drivers. TxDOT gave Dallas a final deadline of Jan. 31 to either submit a compliance plan or face the loss of state and federal transportation funding.
Dallas pushed back hard. The city appealed TxDOT's directive, but the appeal was rejected. Dallas officials cited data suggesting colorful crosswalks can actually improve pedestrian visibility, while TxDOT maintained the markings do not meet standards set by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and lacked a licensed engineer's safety certification.
The 30 crosswalks slated for removal include 10 rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn, 16 Black Lives Matter crosswalks in South Dallas, and four individualized art crosswalks in Uptown. The original Oak Lawn rainbow crosswalks were installed in 2020 at a cost of $128,250, funded entirely by community contributions through the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Two neighborhoods will be hit hardest: South Dallas and Oak Lawn, a historically LGBTQ+ community. Community reaction has been strong. Deborah Hopes, president of Remembering Black Dallas, called the decision "deeply disappointing," saying the removal represents a lost opportunity to recognize culture and affirm the significance of Black lives to all of Dallas.
The city's Office of Arts and Culture is working to find alternatives and is hosting three community engagement sessions to gather input on neighborhood identity projects for the affected areas. Dallas is among the last major Texas cities to comply - Houston, Austin, and Laredo have already removed similar markings.
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