The battle over street aesthetics and political messaging continues as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has firmly denied Dallas' request to keep its decorative road markings, including the rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn and the "Black Lives Matter" mural on MLK Boulevard, as reported by FOX 4 News. Governor Greg Abbott set the original October mandate, citing safety concerns and the enforcement of a uniform standard for road design—a mandate that echoes a similar federal push for standardization of traffic markings for safety reasons.
According to The Independent, despite arguments from local officials that the colorful crosswalks and mural do not pose a safety risk, and in fact, may improve safety, TxDOT requires certification from a licensed traffic engineer that the markings are safe an element the city failed to provide, and now it's facing the loss of millions in infrastructure funding if it doesn't comply by the January deadline. City Councilman Paul Ridley has pointed to a national survey noted by Bloomberg indicating that non-standard painted crosswalks can actually lead to a decrease in traffic accidents, yet the state is unwavering in its stance.
TxDOT's rejection on Monday morning backs Governor Abbott's order to bring about uniformity; it referenced specific reasons such as non-compliance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the lack of proper certification for the "political" markings, as detailed by FOX 4 News. State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, among others, argued that the focus should instead be on the economy, health care, and housing affordability—challenging the directive's underlying focus and priorities.
With other Texas cities having already complied to remove similar markings, Dallas remains one of the few holdouts, as a deadline looms that could affect funding for vital projects, the absence of which could hinder the city's growth and service to its residents, in meantime Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has taken a stand by painting its steps in pride colors, a move that skirts state jurisdiction as the property is private, and falls under the Dallas Landmark Commission, not TxDOT, according to FOX 4 News.
