The state of Texas has given the city of Dallas until the end of January to remove several decorative pavement markings, including rainbow-painted crosswalks in the Oak Lawn neighborhood and a large “Black Lives Matter” street mural on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. State officials have warned that failure to comply could put millions of dollars in transportation and infrastructure funding at risk.
The dispute traces back to an order issued on Oct. 8, 2025, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed state transportation officials to require the removal of what he described as “political” or non-standard roadway markings. The governor argued that such designs fall outside approved traffic control standards and may pose safety concerns by distracting drivers. His directive instructed the Texas Department of Transportation to enforce uniformity rules on state and locally maintained roads.
Dallas officials pushed back in November, seeking an exemption for the rainbow crosswalks located in Oak Lawn, an area known for its LGBTQ+ community. City leaders argued that the crosswalks were funded through private donations, had not been linked to any traffic incidents, and represented a form of protected expression rather than a traffic control device. The city maintained that the markings enhanced community identity without compromising public safety.
That request was formally denied this week. According to a memo circulated by the Dallas city manager, the Texas Department of Transportation rejected the exemption after determining that the city failed to meet required documentation and certification standards. State officials said Dallas did not provide a signed and sealed statement from a licensed traffic engineer confirming that the pavement markings meet safety requirements.
TxDOT also concluded that the decorative markings do not comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the state’s governing standard for roadway design, signs, and markings. The manual outlines specific colors, patterns, and applications intended to ensure consistency and predictability for drivers across Texas roads.
In its response, the agency warned that noncompliance by Jan. 31 could result in serious financial consequences. Potential actions include withholding state and federal transportation funds or suspending existing agreements between the state and the city related to infrastructure projects. Such measures could affect road maintenance, upgrades, and future transportation planning in Dallas.
City officials are now weighing their options as the deadline approaches. While the administration has acknowledged the state’s position, it has not publicly confirmed whether the markings will be removed or whether further legal or administrative steps will be taken. The situation places Dallas at the center of a broader debate over local expression, state authority, and the balance between uniform traffic standards and community identity.
As the end-of-January deadline nears, the outcome of the standoff is expected to have implications beyond Dallas, potentially shaping how other Texas cities approach decorative road art and symbolic street markings in the future.
