AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDOT) to tighten roadway safety guidelines and enforce cities and counties to “remove any and all political ideologies from our streets.” That could include things like the rainbow crosswalk in downtown Austin.
“Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways,” Abbott said.
At the governor’s direction, TxDOT must ensure all counties and cities remove any and all political ideologies from Texas streets. Abbott said, in part, “To keep Texas moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas.”
In August, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to governors across the country urging them to participate in a national road safety initiative. According to previous reporting, that initiative included removing artwork or political messages from streets.
Duffy didn’t specifically point to things like rainbow crosswalks, but suggested that type of display is unsafe.
What will happen if cities do not comply with the federal directive?
According to the release, cities not in compliance will face consequences including withholding or the denial of state and federal road funding, and suspension of agreements with TxDOT.
Other metroplexes in Texas, like Dallas, Houston and San Antoni,o also have rainbow crosswalks installed in their roadways. In 2021, the city of Austin unveiled the rainbow crosswalk landmark located at the intersection of 4th and Colorado Streets.
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