Rainbow crosswalk tore out in Montrose. What about the other ‘roadway distractions?’
The removal of Montrose’s rainbow crosswalk marks the first domino to fall under a new federal order targeting colorful street art, leaving other Houston landmarks, like murals in Third Ward and Independence Heights, facing uncertain futures.
Four protesters were arrested Monday morning as crews removed the rainbow crosswalk in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, following a federal mandate that labels such street art as roadway distractions.
The removal comes after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a nationwide “Safe Roads Initiative” earlier this year, directing governors to eliminate what federal officials consider distracting road features.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott endorsed the directive, specifically ordering the Montrose crosswalk’s removal.
The federal order now threatens similar installations across the Houston area, including meaningful street art in historically significant neighborhoods.
Impact on Local Communities
Two prominent street murals in Houston remain in place but face uncertain futures:
- A Black Lives Matter mural outside Yates High School in Third Ward, painted in memory of George Floyd, a former student who died in 2020
- A “Black Towns Matter” installation along Link Road in Independence Heights, created on Juneteenth 2020 to commemorate the neighborhood’s post-slavery Black community
Houston Mayor John Whitmire indicated the city must comply with federal guidelines to protect crucial funding.
“We’re not going to jeopardize our federal funding. The health department gets $98 million from the federal government,” Whitmire said.
Regional Compliance
Galveston has already taken action, removing two rainbow crosswalks outside City Hall on Rosenberg Street earlier this month.
The city preemptively removed the installations to protect federal funding, acting before any direct intervention from state or federal authorities.
“The crosswalks were removed on October 9 after the directive from the state. The city’s curb and roadway maintenance crew removed the crosswalks so I don’t have an estimate on the cost,” said a Galveston City spokesperson.
Houston’s Pending Decision
While Houston officials express unwillingness to risk federal funding, the city has not yet removed the street art in Third Ward and Independence Heights.
The situation highlights growing tension between local expression and federal safety guidelines.
The removals are part of a broader federal initiative aimed at standardizing road safety measures, though critics argue these installations serve as important cultural and historical markers for their communities.
