SAN ANTONIO, Texas —
Workers have taken down four rainbow crosswalks in San Antonio’s Pride District after a state judge dismissed efforts by activists to prevent Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to remove political symbols from roads. The city’s move, prompted by the potential loss of up to $80 million in federal transportation funds, was completed by Tuesday morning, aligning with state regulations.
The removal occurred following a denial of an appeal in late November and a failed attempt by local activists to secure a temporary restraining order in district court last Friday.
Crews were observed at the intersection of North Main Avenue and West Evergreen Street as they worked to dismantle the crosswalks, all of which were removed by Tuesday. San Antonio officials are currently contesting the governor’s order, which directs the Texas Department of Transportation to eliminate unauthorized political symbols from state roadways.
In a press release dated October 8th, Abbott cautioned city officials about potential repercussions, noting, “Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be spent wisely, not to advance a political agenda on Texas roads. Cities that refuse to comply with standards will face consequences, which may include the withholding of state and federal funding.”
In a final effort to block the crosswalk removals, two local organizations, Pride San Antonio and the Texas Conservative Liberty Forum, recently filed a lawsuit against multiple city officials in Bexar County District Court. According to local reports, Judge Christine Vasquez-Holtic denied their request for a temporary restraining order to stop the removal.
Bonnie Kirkland, representing the city, advocated for compliance with the state’s order, stating, “While everyone in this room may agree that this is a working crosswalk, the state contradicts that view, so we must comply,” as reported by a local news outlet.
The situation reflects a broader national conversation about crosswalk removals, sparked by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy’s letter to governors urging them to eliminate nonstandard street art for safety reasons. Duffy emphasized the need for roadways to remain focused on safety rather than political messages, citing the high number of traffic-related fatalities.
If San Antonio had chosen not to comply with Abbott’s directive, it could have risked losing about $80 million in federal funds for future transportation initiatives.
