Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is warning cities and counties that road markings that convey “social, political, or ideological messages” may violate federal and state road safety standards.
Although Abbott’s message doesn’t identify any specific messages, many cities in recent years have added colorful markings on roads and sidewalks honoring LGBTQ pride and support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The intersection of Stanton and Franklin streets in Downtown El Paso, popularly known as Pride Square, includes rainbow colors on sidewalks and parts of the street.
“Today, I directed the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure Texas counties and cities remove any and all political ideologies from our streets. To keep Texans moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas,” Abbott said in a news release Wednesday. “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.”
El Paso city officials said they are aware of Abbott’s directive.
“We are currently evaluating the directive and will reach out to TxDOT for further guidance and clarification to determine if any of the city’s existing roadway installations conflict with their most recent guidance,” city spokesperson Laura Cruz-Acosta said in a statement. “The safety of all roadway users – including motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists – remains our highest priority.”
Amber Pérez, the executive director of El Paso’s Borderland Rainbow Center, said Abbott was disingenuous in framing street markings as a safety issue.
“It’s disappointing to see another action from the governor’s office that appears to target expressions of inclusion and visibility under the guise of ‘safety.’ Pride crosswalks, murals and other affirming public symbols are not political statements, they are reflections of community pride and belonging,” Pérez said.
“In El Paso, our Pride Square display represents love, safety and connection for LGBTQIA+ people who often feel unseen in public life. Removing these affirming symbols would not make our roads safer, it would make our communities less welcoming and more divided,” she said.
Abbott didn’t specify the state and federal road standards that he said support his directive. However, the national standards on road signage are set out by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
The national standards permit widespread application of artwork to streets, so long as the art doesn’t interfere with traffic control devices.
“Aesthetic surface treatments and intersection murals are not considered traffic control devices and, therefore, are not governed by the MUTCD, except where those treatments interact with and adversely impact official traffic control devices,” the National Highway Administration said in an online Q&A about national policy.
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