Texas Orders Dallas To Remove Rainbow Crosswalks In Oak Lawn

City must strip decorative crosswalk designs within 90 days after state rejects exemption request.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:55am

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The city of Dallas is preparing to remove dozens of decorative crosswalks, including the rainbow-colored crosswalks that have long marked stretches of the Oak Lawn neighborhood, after the Texas Department of Transportation rejected the city's request for an exemption. Dallas officials say they will work with the community on replacement public art options that do not involve painting the roadway.

Why it matters

The rainbow crosswalks have served as a visual symbol of the LGBTQ community's presence and pride in the Oak Lawn neighborhood. Their removal is seen by many as a blow to the neighborhood's identity and history. The state's crackdown on decorative crosswalks across Texas has sparked debate over the role of public art, community expression, and traffic safety regulations.

The details

Dallas will have 90 days to remove the crosswalk designs, which include 10 rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn, 4 custom art crosswalks in Uptown, and several Black Lives Matter markings in South Dallas. Many of the rainbow crosswalks were privately funded by groups like the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. City officials plan to coordinate the removals with neighborhood outreach to gather input on replacement public art that does not involve painting the roadway.

  • In October 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the statewide crackdown on decorative crosswalks.
  • Earlier in January 2026, TxDOT rejected Dallas's request for an exemption and set a Saturday deadline for the city to remove the crosswalk designs or submit a new exemption request.
  • Dallas has 90 days from late January 2026 to comply with TxDOT's order and remove the crosswalk designs.

The players

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

The state transportation agency that rejected Dallas's request for an exemption to keep the decorative crosswalks and has ordered their removal within 90 days.

City of Dallas

The city government that is preparing to remove the decorative crosswalks, including the rainbow crosswalks in the Oak Lawn neighborhood, in compliance with TxDOT's order.

North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

The organization that helped fund the installation and upkeep of the rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn.

Gov. Greg Abbott

The Texas governor who ordered the statewide crackdown on decorative crosswalks in October 2025, arguing they can carry political messages and distract drivers.

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church

A private property owner in Oak Lawn that has secured local approvals to keep pride displays on its own site, which are not affected by the state's directives for public roadways.

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What they’re saying

“While the City maintains that existing crosswalk designs do not present measurable public safety issues, the city still recognizes TxDOT's role in keeping transportation networks safe and efficient for all kinds of travel.”

— Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, City Manager, City of Dallas (The Dallas Morning News)

“If the paint has to go, community members will look for other visible ways to signal inclusion.”

— Tony Vedda, CEO, North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (CBS News Texas)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the city to keep the rainbow crosswalks in place during the 90-day removal process.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tension between state transportation regulations, community identity, and the role of public art in urban spaces. As Dallas works to comply with the state order, it will need to balance safety concerns with preserving the neighborhood's sense of place and inclusivity.