Scoop: Austin to remove painted crosswalks by end of July
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Austin's rainbow crosswalk on West Fourth Street. Photo: Mikala Compton/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images
Austin's most recognizable painted crosswalks, including the city's rainbow crosswalk downtown, will be removed by the end of July to comply with a state directive, officials say.
Why it matters: The plan for their removal, released Tuesday, caps a months-long effort by state officials to force cities to remove roadway artwork.
- Critics have argued the effort is politically motivated and targets artwork celebrating LGBTQ and minority communities.
Driving the news: The city detailed its plan for the crosswalks' removal in a letter submitted to the Texas Department of Transportation, which was provided to Axios on Tuesday.
- City officials say they'll add black thermoplastic to cover the rainbow crosswalk at West Fourth and Colorado streets, along with a seal coat to cover "Black Artists Matter" along East 11th Street.
- The burnt orange "TEXAS" painted along Guadalupe Street at the University of Texas will be covered with a seal coat, per the action plan.
Catch up quick: The action plan comes after TxDOT rejected the city's request last month to keep some of its street art.
- A city spokesperson said officials did not have an estimate for the cost of the removals.
- The city removed three painted crosswalks in February, per orders from the Federal Highway Administration as part of a safety study.
Zoom in: The city will also have to remove a river-themed crosswalk on Lake Austin Boulevard and art at two traffic circles at East 22nd and Salina Streets and another at East 53rd Street and Avenue H.
- TxDOT had previously accepted Austin's proposal to install curbing and other improvements at three street art locations, but the city now says it lacks funding for those upgrades and plans to remove the artwork there by the end of July.
- Three other sites can continue fading naturally under TxDOT's earlier guidance.
What they're saying: Todd Hogan, president and CEO of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, called the rainbow crosswalk downtown a "visible reminder that LGBTQ+ people belong in Austin."
- "While we're disappointed by the state's decision, our community's future is not defined by a crosswalk," Hogan said in a statement provided to Axios.
- "It is defined by the people, small businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs who continue to make Austin stronger every day. The best response is to keep investing in those people, LGBTQ+ and allied businesses, and the local economy they help drive."
Zoom out: Other Texas cities have taken different approaches.
- Houston complied with the state's order, Dallas unsuccessfully sought to preserve some artwork and San Antonio replaced its removed rainbow crosswalks with rainbow sidewalks in its Pride Cultural Heritage District.
Between the lines: Austin residents and city leaders gathered this weekend for farewell events for some of the street art.
- Residents painted a mural near the rainbow crosswalk that is set to be removed.
- "When the state decided to target our murals, the community stood together to celebrate our city's diversity, spirit and creativity," Mayor Kirk Watson told the crowd.
The other side: TxDOT officials have said the crosswalk removals are necessary for roadway safety.
- The agency's edict came after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the agency to ensure cities "remove any and all political ideologies" from streets.
What's next: Most of the artwork targeted by TxDOT is expected to be removed by the end of July.
- The river-themed installation on Lake Austin Boulevard will likely remain until late August because it must first be removed from the city's public art collection through a City Council-approved deaccession process.