SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Division of Transportation has denied the Metropolis of San Antonio’s request to maintain the Satisfaction District’s rainbow crosswalks after Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to take away “any and all political ideologies” from Texas streets.
In an Oct. 8 information launch from Abbott’s workplace, the governor referred to as on TxDOT to implement the elimination of non-standard floor markings, signage and alerts that “don’t straight assist visitors management or security.”
The crosswalks, situated on the intersection of North Most important Avenue and East Evergreen Road inside the Satisfaction Cultural Heritage District, have been a level of competition for the reason that order.
Assistant Metropolis Supervisor John Peterek filed town’s exemption request on Nov. 5.
KSAT obtained a Nov. 25 letter from Director of TxDOT’s Site visitors Security Division George Villarreal to Peterek. Within the letter, Villarreal mentioned TxDOT “doesn’t take into account this exemption request acceptable.”
Villarreal requested town both submit an up to date exemption request addressing compliance or submit a plan of motion earlier than Dec. 10 for eradicating the crosswalks.
“Failure to adjust to this directive could outcome within the withholding or denial of state or federal funds and/or the suspension of agreements between TxDOT and town,” Villarreal mentioned.
In a response letter on Dec. 10 obtained by KSAT, Peterek mentioned town “continues to imagine that the crosswalks in query are safer than earlier than the set up of the rainbow-colored paint, that the intersection is safer than comparable intersections, and that it demonstrated the significance of the crosswalks to the Satisfaction Cultural Heritage District.”
“Nonetheless, the Metropolis will respect TxDOT’s resolution,” the letter states.
Peterek mentioned town plans to have interaction with potential contractors to take away the crosswalks and establish obtainable funds for the elimination.
“The Metropolis will full elimination and substitute operations on or earlier than January 15, 2026,” Peterek mentioned.
Background
Based on TxDOT, the SAFE ROADS (Secure Arterials for Everybody by Dependable Operations and Distraction-Lowering Methods) initiative — launched by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on July 1 — emphasizes that intersections and crosswalks must be “stored free from distractions.”
Abbott beforehand warned that cities who didn’t adjust to the order “will face penalties together with the withholding or denial of state and federal street funding and suspension of agreements with TxDOT.”
Within the metropolis’s exemption request, which was directed to TxDOT officers, Peterek mentioned the division knowledgeable town that the rainbow crosswalks have been the “sole location” inside metropolis limits in violation of the brand new directive.
Peterek mentioned within the letter that town “would recognize steerage regarding the statutory or regulatory authority TxDOT is counting on to assist its new directive.”
“The Metropolis doesn’t imagine the rainbow-colored crosswalks are prohibited by the present Handbook on Uniform Site visitors Management Units for Streets and Highways,” the letter acknowledged.
Town cited a “demonstrable public security profit” and “overwhelming group profit and assist” as causes for exemption.
Based on security information, pedestrian accidents are much less frequent on the intersection for the reason that set up of the rainbow crosswalks and are much less frequent than a close-by intersection compared, the letter acknowledged.
The letter additionally famous the crosswalks as a “centerpiece” of the delight district.
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