TxDOT has denied a request to exempt two decorative crosswalks from removal following a statewide safety directive from Gov. Greg Abbott.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation has denied the City of Corpus Christi’s request for an exemption that would have allowed two decorative crosswalks to remain in place following a statewide directive from Gov. Greg Abbott requiring the removal of non-standard roadway markings.
According to a memo from the office of City Manager Peter Zanoni, TxDOT determined that the crosswalks at the Six Points intersection and at Twigg Street and Shoreline Boulevard do not comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The ruling means the City must move forward with removing the crosswalks or risk losing state and federal transportation funding.
The denial follows an Oct. 8 order from Abbott directing TxDOT to enforce stricter roadway safety standards under the governor’s “Safe Roads Initiative.” The initiative prohibits pavement markings, symbols, or designs that do not directly support traffic control or safety, including decorative artwork and markings that could be considered distracting.
City officials formally requested an exemption from TxDOT in late October, arguing that the crosswalks enhanced pedestrian visibility and community character. In a Nov. 25 response, TxDOT’s Traffic Safety Division rejected the request, stating that any exception would require certification from a traffic engineer confirming full compliance with state and federal standards.
The City’s memo warns that failure to comply could result in the suspension of TxDOT agreements or the withholding of transportation funds. Public Works officials say removal of the crosswalks is expected to begin in early 2026, starting with the Six Points location.
The decision has drawn strong reactions from community members and local artists, who see the crosswalks as more than roadway markings.
Former Corpus Christi councilmember Ben Molina, who helped champion the Six Points crosswalk design, said the project was intended to bring energy and economic activity to the area. Molina said the crosswalk helped attract businesses and increased visibility for pedestrians in a historically underserved corridor.
Local artists have also expressed disappointment as the state crackdown raised concerns about public art across the city. While TxDOT’s directive initially cast uncertainty over dozens of downtown electrical box murals, city officials and the Downtown Management District later confirmed those installations are not included in the state order.