Dallas has been given an ultimatum: remove its rainbow and Black Lives Matter crosswalks or risk losing millions in transportation funding. The Texas Department of Transportation delivered the final warning earlier this month, giving the city until January 31, 2026, to submit a compliance plan for removing what state officials have labeled “political ideologies” from city streets.
The order stems from Governor Greg Abbott’s October directive that mandated the removal of decorative crosswalks across Texas. Dallas now stands as one of the last major Texas cities still holding out, while Houston, Austin, and San Antonio have already cleared their rainbow-painted crosswalks.
“If the crosswalk art is not removed by the end of the month, Dallas could face federal or state funding cuts and a suspension of agreements between the city and TxDOT,” according to a January 15 letter obtained by KERA News.
A Rejected Appeal
City officials had previously sought an exemption from the state’s order but were rejected in November. TxDOT claimed the city’s request lacked proper documentation from a licensed traffic engineer. What’s curious about the rejection? “TxDOT did not clarify how our crosswalks impede pedestrian and vehicle safety as requested by our appeal letter,” noted Dallas Transportation Director Ghassan Khankarli in a memo to the city council.
The standoff has been brewing for months, with Abbott’s administration targeting what it considers inappropriate political messaging on public roadways. Critics argue the move specifically targets symbols of LGBTQ+ pride and racial justice movements, while supporters maintain that public infrastructure should remain politically neutral.
The rainbow crosswalks in Oak Lawn, Dallas’s historic gayborhood, have become particularly contentious symbols in this battle. Installed several years ago with community support and private funding, they’ve become both a point of pride for residents and a target for state officials.
Community Response
Not everyone is taking the order lying down. In a creative act of solidarity, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church painted its church steps in rainbow colors after learning of the state’s demands.
“The governor may remove a rainbow from a roadway — but he cannot erase the image of God in God’s people,” the church declared in a social media post unveiling the rainbow staircase. “We are painting our steps because faith is not silent in the face of harm.”
The Dallas Landmark Commission upheld the church’s right to maintain its rainbow steps, creating an interesting contrast with the state’s position on similar displays just feet away on public streets.
For Dallas officials, the choice now seems stark: comply with the removal order by 2026 or potentially lose critical transportation funding that supports infrastructure throughout the city. The city council is expected to discuss its options at an upcoming meeting.
While other Texas cities have quietly complied with similar orders, Dallas’s delay has turned it into something of a final battleground over these symbolic public displays. As the January 31 deadline approaches, the city must decide whether to continue fighting or join its municipal peers in erasing these colorful statements from its streets.
Whatever path Dallas chooses, one thing is certain — the rainbows may fade from the asphalt, but as Oak Lawn United Methodist demonstrates, they’ll likely find new canvas elsewhere in the community.
