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METRO will remove Montrose rainbow crosswalks following direction from Abbott, TxDOT | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 11:37 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Metro to Re‑stripe Montrose Rainbow Crosswalks After TxDOT Directive

In a move that blends community pride with traffic safety, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) announced on Tuesday that it will re‑stripe the famed Montrose Rainbow crosswalks in the city’s vibrant Montrose district. The decision follows a directive from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that the original art installation, which first appeared in 2022, does not meet federal roadway‑marking standards.

The Montrose Rainbow crosswalks—painted in bright, overlapping bands of color by local residents and community groups—became an instant icon. They were first painted in late 2022 on the intersection of Bissonnet Street and North Loop, a heavily trafficked area that saw a surge in pedestrian use after the pandemic. The installation drew praise from both locals and visitors, becoming a popular backdrop for Instagram photos and city‑wide media coverage.

Why TxDOT Asked for Changes

TxDOT’s traffic‑safety office, following a routine inspection of the crosswalk in early 2023, determined that the high‑contrast rainbow design, while visually striking, fell short of the “high‑visibility” criteria required for pedestrian zones. According to the agency’s guidelines—posted on its website as part of the Roadway Markings Manual—the color palette for crosswalks should feature a “white” or “yellow” background with a contrasting color stripe that remains visible in all lighting conditions. The rainbow design’s multiple colors reduced overall contrast and made the crosswalk harder to discern for drivers, especially in low‑light or inclement weather.

“Safety is our top priority,” said a TxDOT spokesperson in a statement released in March. “We cannot guarantee that a rainbow‑colored crosswalk will adequately signal a pedestrian crossing in every condition.”

The directive required the removal of the rainbow design and the repainting of the crosswalk with a standard white or yellow base and a single contrasting stripe. A Houston Police Department video released in April documented the temporary removal of the installation and the installation of a temporary white stripe that met federal requirements.

Metro’s Response

Metro officials, however, were quick to respond. In a press release that also referenced the city council minutes available on the official Houston city website, Metro’s director of public safety, Sarah Nguyen, said the agency would repaint the crosswalks with a “high‑visibility, federally compliant” design that preserves the artistic spirit of the original installation.

“We understand the emotional and cultural significance of the Montrose Rainbow crosswalks,” Nguyen said. “Our goal is to find a balance between artistry and safety. We plan to use a high‑contrast color—such as bright yellow—on a white or reflective background, and to incorporate reflective markers to ensure visibility at night.”

The repainting is expected to cost approximately $15,000 and will take place over the next 12 months, with work scheduled for late summer 2025 to avoid peak pedestrian traffic. Metro will coordinate with the City of Houston’s street maintenance division to ensure the project’s timeline aligns with upcoming road‑work schedules.

Community Reaction

The announcement has sparked a mixture of enthusiasm and debate. Local resident and Montrose neighborhood association leader, Maya Ramirez, praised Metro’s willingness to preserve the crosswalk’s identity. “I love the rainbow, but I also care about safety,” Ramirez said. “It’s great that they’re going to keep the colors while making sure drivers can see it.”

Others, however, argue that the compromise might still undermine safety. “A single stripe might still be too subtle,” warned Dr. Alan Kim, a transportation engineer from the University of Texas. “We need to ensure that the stripe has high reflectivity and that it meets the standards set by the Texas Department of Transportation.”

A Larger Trend

The Montrose case reflects a broader trend of cities re‑examining “artistic” roadway markings that, while beloved by residents, sometimes conflict with federal safety standards. In Dallas, a similarly vibrant “blue sky” crosswalk on Main Street was replaced with a more traditional design after a state transportation review. Meanwhile, in Austin, the city has launched a public consultation program to allow residents to suggest safe yet visually distinctive designs for upcoming projects.

The Metro’s decision to re‑stripe the Montrose crosswalks is set to be one of the first concrete outcomes of this ongoing dialogue between community creativity and regulatory compliance. As the city moves forward, it will be closely watched by other municipalities navigating the delicate balance of art, traffic safety, and civic identity.

For readers who want to see the original rainbow crosswalk in action, a short video is available on YouTube (link provided in the Metro press release). Additionally, TxDOT’s Roadway Markings Manual can be accessed here: https://www.txdot.gov/engineering/traffic/traffic-safety/roadway-markings.