City of Dallas to comply with TxDOT order affecting decorative crosswalks across neighborhoods
Dallas, Texas – Dallas officials have confirmed that the city will comply with a directive from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to remove or correct non-compliant pavement markings at multiple intersections. The request affects 30 decorative crosswalks citywide, all of which will need to be removed or adjusted within 90 days.
City Commits to State Guidelines While Supporting Local Identity
In a formal response, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert sent a letter to the Director of TxDOT’s Traffic Safety Division, confirming the city’s intention to follow the order. “The city appreciates TxDOT’s partnership in sustaining safe multimodal transportation in Dallas,” said Tolbert. “The city will work with affected communities on ways to recognize their neighborhoods.”
The removal order stems from TxDOT’s determination that the current designs in the affected crosswalks do not comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD). The state agency denied the city’s appeal, standing firm that uniformity across all traffic control devices is essential for safety and consistency.
TxDOT further explained that their directive is in alignment with both the Secretary of Transportation’s Safe Road Initiative and Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order from October 8, 2025. That directive emphasizes the need for traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings to be both uniform and predictable across the entire state, reducing potential confusion for drivers and pedestrians.
City leaders indicated they will continue working with neighborhoods that had previously installed decorative crosswalks to find alternative ways of honoring community culture and identity, even as they move to meet the state’s safety requirements.
With the 90-day timeline now in effect, Dallas must act quickly to modify or remove the decorative designs in accordance with TxDOT regulations while maintaining communication with the public on the changes underway.
