Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to eliminate what he called “political agendas on Texas roadways,” instructing the agency to coordinate with cities and counties to ensure that “any and all political ideologies” are removed from public streets.
In a letter issued last week, Abbott said the move was intended to preserve safety and uniformity across the state’s transportation network.
“To keep Texans moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas,” Abbott wrote. “Any city that refuses to comply with the federal road standards will face consequences including the withholding or denial of state and federal road funding and suspension of agreements with TxDOT.”
TxDOT Issues Clarification
Shortly after Abbott’s directive, TxDOT sent a formal notice to local transportation officials across Texas outlining the new requirements. The agency stated that any pavement markings, murals, or decorative designs on traffic lanes, shoulders, intersections, or crosswalks that do not serve a specific traffic-control or safety purpose are now prohibited.
“This prohibition includes the use of symbols, flags, or other markings conveying any message or communication,” the TxDOT letter reads.
Local governments have been given 30 days to comply, or they risk losing access to certain streams of state and federal funding.
Cities Begin to Respond
Several Texas cities have already begun taking action.
Houston: The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) announced plans to re-stripe a rainbow crosswalk in the Montrose area, saying it will adhere to the new guidance.
Austin: Mayor Kirk Watson said the city has identified 16 locations affected by the directive. While the city will comply, Watson criticized the move, calling it “disappointing and a waste of time to be talking about this.”
Galveston: Officials have already removed two rainbow crosswalks in the downtown area.
San Antonio: Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said the city is “awaiting additional information from TxDOT” before moving forward.
Dallas: City Manager Kim Tolbert stated that the city attorney’s office is reviewing the directive to determine the appropriate response.
Tied to Federal “SAFE ROADS” Initiative
Abbott’s directive follows a recent federal initiative launched by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, titled Safe Arterials for Everyone through Reliable Operations and Distraction-Reducing Strategies—known as the SAFE ROADS initiative. In a July letter sent to all U.S. governors, Duffy urged states to ensure that roadways remain free from “distractions” and “non-essential markings.”
“Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork,” Duffy said in his July release, which TxDOT cited in its communication to local governments. “Today I am calling on governors in every state to ensure that roadways, intersections, and crosswalks are kept free of distractions.”
Broader Context and Debate
The move has sparked a wave of discussion across the state, with some local leaders viewing it as an overreach into municipal affairs and others supporting it as a step toward traffic safety and uniformity.
Decorative crosswalks—often painted in rainbow colors or bearing community art—have become popular symbols of local identity and inclusion in cities like Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Critics of the directive say removing them sends the wrong message about diversity and local autonomy.
Supporters of the policy, however, argue that the markings violate federal roadway design standards and could potentially distract drivers.
