Dallas Councilmember Seeks Reversal of Crosswalk Directive
A memo asks city staff to request reconsideration of a 2025 state directive that led to the removal of 30 decorative crosswalks.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Should Dallas bring back the decorative crosswalks removed under the state directive?
Dallas Councilmember Chad West sent a memo to City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert asking staff to request reconsideration of a 2025 Texas Department of Transportation directive. The directive forced the city to remove 30 decorative crosswalks in council districts 7 and 14.
Why it matters
The removed crosswalks were privately funded and served as economic development tools, so the directive affects local neighborhood investment as well as street design. The memo asks the city to seek a change from Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa's office, which would determine whether the crosswalks can return.
The city removed 30 decorative crosswalks in council districts 7 and 14 to comply with the 2025 TxDOT directive. The memo does not indicate whether the state has responded to the reconsideration request.
The players
Chad West
Chad West is a Dallas City Council member who sent the memo requesting that staff seek reconsideration of the state directive.
Kimberly Bizor Tolbert
Kimberly Bizor Tolbert is the Dallas City Manager who received the memo and is responsible for the city's administrative response.
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott is the Governor of Texas who is cited as having prompted the 2025 TxDOT directive on decorative crosswalks.
Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy is the U.S. Transportation Secretary who is cited as having prompted the 2025 TxDOT directive on decorative crosswalks.
Gina Hinojosa
Gina Hinojosa is the Governor-elect of Texas, whose office the memo asks city staff to contact about reconsidering the directive.
The details
The 2025 TxDOT directive was issued at the behest of Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The memo states that evidence shows the decorative crosswalks were safer than traditional crosswalks, and it asks staff to contact Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa's office.
Timeline
2025: TxDOT directive requires removal of decorative crosswalks.
November 10, 2026: West sends memo to City Manager Tolbert requesting reconsideration.
Political Context
The memo seeks to reverse the 2025 TxDOT directive that required the removal of decorative crosswalks, which the city has said were privately funded. Councilmember West's request frames the state rule as a conflict with local economic development and safety interests.
Residents in council districts 7 and 14 no longer see the 30 removed decorative crosswalks, and any return depends on whether the state revisits its directive. Drivers and pedestrians in those districts should expect the street markings to remain as they are until a reconsideration request is resolved.
The takeaway
Local street design can be constrained by state transportation directives, so residents who want changes should track both city council actions and state-level decisions. The outcome of the memo will show whether a city can win reconsideration of a state rule affecting its own streets.
Further reading
For more on how local decisions interact with state policy, see the City Hall section covering Dallas.
Live Poll
Should Dallas bring back the decorative crosswalks removed under the state directive?
