Work began Monday to remove 30 decorative crosswalks across North Texas, with crews starting in Dallas, following a state directive requiring the city to comply with uniform roadway standards.

“It’s my community that’s constantly being erased in this city,” Dr. Hanson said. Hanson and his husband own Common Ground Games off Inwood Road and said they are very connected to the Oak Lawn community.

“I came to have lunch and to witness the removal of the crosswalks. They said they were going to start today, and I expected them to take a little bit longer. But it was gone when I got here at 11:30 a.m.,” Hanson said.

The effort comes after the Texas Department of Transportation notified the city in October 2025 that decorative pavement markings do not meet guidelines outlined in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Dallas sought an exception to preserve several community-designed crosswalks, but the request was denied in January. The city then submitted a compliance plan committing to bring the crossings into conformity within 90 days.

“This was funded by the community. And then to have taxpayer dollars be used to remove it, it doesn’t make any sense,” Hanson said.

The North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce created a fundraiser for the rainbow crosswalks in 2019. Members of the community and organizations, including the Cedar Springs Merchants Association, contributed to help fund the crosswalks.

In Dallas, Oak Lawn, a historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood, showed remnants of paint and partially covered lines Monday afternoon, leaving a noticeably subdued atmosphere.

“When I see us trying to be visible and to have that taken away, it’s disgusting,” Hanson said.

City officials have said they were warned noncompliance could risk state and federal funding.

Residents and community leaders expressed frustration not only with the removals but also the speed at which they occurred.

“Are they moving that fast to do potholes? No. But they came out here very quickly to take off publicly funded rainbow crosswalk that affected no one,” Hanson said.

A total of 30 crosswalks recognizing Black and LGBTQ+ communities are scheduled for removal in the coming weeks.

“It feels like we’re being erased,” Hanson said.

Jacob Reyes with Texas Latino Pride said the changes are discouraging but emphasized the community’s strength.

“It’s a little sad,” Reyes said. “What I am aware of is that this LGBTQ community is adaptable, and we’re resilient.”

Reyes said the neighborhood has responded with visible expressions of identity and support.

“There are so many people here in Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs who are willing to invest in this neighborhood in so many other ways. I mean, look around, this is still an LGBTQ district. We still support our small businesses. We still have pride flags hanging across the neighborhood.”

“We painted our buildings. We had new flags installed. This is all the work of community members, and it’s an example of our resiliency,” Reyes said.

Under the city’s plan, the Office of Arts and Culture is exploring alternative ways to recognize neighborhood identity, including new public art initiatives. Community engagement sessions are also planned to gather input on future projects.

“This community is not going anywhere, whether people like it or not,” Reyes said. “Queer Texans are Texans, and we deserve to have our own spaces here.”

According to a city memo, compliant crosswalk markings will be completed by April 28, 2026.

Community engagement sessions are scheduled:

April 6, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Theater Three, 2688 Laclede St. #120

April 8, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave.

April 10, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Reverchon Recreation Center, 3505 Maple Ave.