Austin’s rainbow crosswalks were removed earlier this week following federal and state directives to remove political messages and artwork from city streets.
The rainbow colored crosswalks were removed from 4th Street and Colorado Street. Conservative activists are celebrating the removal as a “victory” on social media.
In fall 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure compliance with a federal order issued by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that called for the removal of “‘political messages of any nature’ from intersections and crosswalks,” describing them as “‘distractions’ that detract from roadway safety.”
Prior to its removal, KXAN reported that the city requested in May that the artwork remain on the sidewalks. The request was rejected, and the city was given until June 22 to submit a plan to the state outlining how it would comply with the federal and state directives at multiple crosswalk locations.
These locations are located at 4th and Colorado St, River on Lake Austin Boulevard, East 11th Street between Waller Street and Lydia Street, Guadalupe Street between W. 22nd Street and W. 24th Street, Traffic Circle at E. 22nd and Salina, and Traffic Circle at 53rd and Avenue H.
KXAN also reported that Scott Neil, commissioner of City of Austin LGBTQ Quality of Life, has responded that “‘no blowtorch or metal scraper’ can remove the pride of LGBTQ+ Austinites.”
Alternative proposals, including murals, banners and sidewalk art, have already been made to “preserve community expression.”
In March, the City of San Antonio snubbed the state and federal directives by installing rainbow sidewalks in the area where rainbow-colored crosswalks were formerly located.
