Alex Gonzalez
Audio By Carbonatix
The rainbow crosswalks paving the way for pedestrians along Cedar Springs Road could be in jeopardy thanks to a directive issued by Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday afternoon.
In the name of “roadway safety,” Abbott announced that he has directed the Texas Department of Transportation to crack down on road compliance measures, specifically ensuring that “political ideologies” aren’t displayed through road paint or signage. Cities and counties have 30 days to get into compliance before their road funding could come under threat, Axios reports. While Abbott’s announcement does not explicitly call out rainbow crosswalks, the governor’s announcement came just one week after a neighborhood in Houston repainted its colorful crosswalks.
“Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways,” Abbott announced. “Any city that refuses to comply with the federal road standards will face consequences, including the withholding or denial of state and federal road funding and suspension of agreements with TxDOT.”
Dallas’ rainbow crosswalks received a facelift in June of this year, courtesy of the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. Chamber CEO Tony Vedda told The Dallas Voice the crosswalks were a “bold, visible reminder of the strength and resilience of our LGBTQ+ community.” When we got Vedda on the phone Wednesday afternoon, he hadn’t yet heard of Abbott’s directive.
A statement from the chamber emphasized that the Cedar Springs Road crosswalks were privately funded, not paid for by taxpayer dollars as Abbott suggested.
“What began as an act of love and civic pride is now being mischaracterized as a political controversy. That is disheartening,” the statement said. “Our purpose has never been political. It has been—and remains—about safety, visibility and authenticity. The rainbow crosswalks serve as a welcoming signal that everyone belongs and that every Texan should be able to walk their streets without fear or shame.”
While the city has assisted with the installation of the crosswalks in the past, a spokesperson said that Marilla Street wants to hear something a bit more official than a press release before making any changes to Cedar Springs Road.
“The city of Dallas has not yet received direct communication from the state. When we do, we will review the correspondence and investigate what steps are necessary,” a city spokesperson told the Observer.
President Donald Trump has backed an ongoing push to eliminate politically motivated “asphalt art,” although the existence of the LGBTQ+ community is not inherently political. In July, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy sent states a letter listing “compliance concerns” such as “non-standard” colors on the roads. Duffy later called out rainbow crosswalks specifically on social media as a target of the administration.
Florida issued a similar memo, resulting in the overnight removal of the rainbow crosswalk outside of the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were killed in a shooting in 2016.
