Dallas to remove 30 decorative crosswalks following state mandate
DALLAS - The City of Dallas will begin removing 30 decorative community crosswalks Monday to comply with state safety standards after Texas officials denied the city’s request to keep the colorful pavement markings.
Dallas begins three-week project
Big picture view:
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) notified city officials in October 2025 that decorative designs on public roadways do not meet the standards set by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. While the city sought an exception to preserve the neighborhood-specific designs, TxDOT issued a final denial on Jan. 15, 2026.
Dallas will be next Texas city to remove rainbow crosswalks after defunding threat
Dallas is set to be the next major Texas city to comply with a TxDOT directive to remove decorative road markings or risk losing road funding.
Timeline:
The Transportation and Public Works Department is scheduled to begin the removal and replacement process on March 23. Work will start at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue, coinciding with a planned resurfacing project in the area to minimize traffic disruptions.
Officials anticipate all 30 crosswalks will be brought into state conformity by April 28, though they hope to complete the project within three weeks, weather permitting.
In response to the mandate, the Office of Arts and Culture is developing alternative programs to recognize neighborhood identities through public art that does not involve pavement markings. The city has scheduled three community engagement sessions in April to gather resident input:
- Uptown: April 6, 5:30 p.m. at Theater Three, 2688 Laclede St.
- South Dallas: April 8, 5:30 p.m. at the South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 S. Fitzhugh
- Cedar Springs: April 10, 5:30 p.m. at the Reverchon Recreation Center, 3505 Maple Ave.
Assistant City Manager Dev Rastogi stated in a memorandum to the City Council that the city is reviewing how peer cities handle similar requirements while maintaining community character.
The Source: Information in this article is from the City of Dallas.