Dallas City Councilman Chad West is pressing Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert to reach out to Governor‑elect Gina Hinojosa’s office with a request to restore twelve decorative crosswalks that were removed earlier this year. West argues that the colorful crossings provide real safety benefits and add community value, and he hopes the incoming administration will be more tolerant of such local enhancements.
Background
In March 2026 the Texas Department of Transportation issued an order requiring cities to eliminate “decorative designs” from public roadways. Governor Greg Abbott warned that cities refusing to comply could lose state funding, labeling the designs as political messaging and a driver distraction. Dallas applied for an exemption but was denied, leading the city to strip the decorative crosswalks in March and April. The removals included rainbow‑colored crossings in Oak Lawn and Black Lives Matter designs in Fair Park. One individual was arrested after attempting to repaint a rainbow stripe on an Oak Lawn crosswalk.
Council’s request
West’s formal request, submitted to City Manager Tolbert, asks the governor‑elect to rescind Abbott’s order and allow Dallas to reinstall the decorative crossings. He told FOX 4’s Amelia Jones, “There’s a lot of priorities in the state and a lot of very important issues to face. This is, to me, a pretty easy one.” West added that he has already received supportive emails from both the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, and he expects a broad local rally behind the effort.
Governor‑elect’s stance
Hinojosa is slated to be sworn in on January 19, 2027. While she has not yet issued a public statement on the crosswalk issue, West expressed optimism that the new administration will adopt a more tolerant approach, saying, “So now we’ve got a new regime. We’re hoping to see a little bit more tolerance and more of a focus on what’s really important in the state. And that doesn’t involve the removal of crosswalks, I would assume.” The council hopes the governor‑elect’s office will support the request and help overturn the previous directive.
Local impact
Proponents of the decorative crossings point to studies indicating that high‑visibility crosswalks can reduce pedestrian accidents and improve driver awareness. West emphasized that restoring the designs would not only enhance safety but also reflect Dallas’s commitment to inclusive public spaces.
Next steps
The city will await a response from the governor‑elect’s office. If Hinojosa’s administration agrees to rescind the TxDOT order, Dallas could begin reinstalling the twelve crossings later this year, pending any additional state approvals.
Original reporting: Dallas – Ft. Worth Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
