The cost of removing Austin's street art

• It also carries a taxpayer cost.

Catch up quick: To comply with a state directive, Austin removed several high-profile street art installations last month, including the city's rainbow crosswalk at Fourth and Colorado streets, the "Black Artists Matter" mural on East 11th Street and the "TEXAS" mural on Guadalupe Street.

What we found: Austin Transportation and Public Works officials tell Axios that Austin has spent nearly $28,000 to remove art — and plans to shell out nearly $13,500 more, bringing the total cost to over $41,000.

• The final total may increase, city officials tell Axios, as more costs roll in.

The other side: Texas Department of Transportation officials say the crosswalk removals are necessary for roadway safety.

• The agency's order came after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the agency to ensure cities "remove any and all political ideologies" from streets.

The bottom line: The money Austin is spending to comply with the state's demand is a tiny fraction of the city's multibillion-dollar budget, but it's not nothing.