Austin to remove painted crosswalks, street-art markings after TxDOT order

Some of Austin’s most visible painted crosswalks and street-art-style pavement markings are headed for covering or removal after TxDOT said the markings don’t meet Texas MUTCD/TMUTCD standards. In the city’s compliance plan submitted under a June 22, 2026 deadline, Austin laid out how specific roadway locations will be remediated—targeting many of the highest-visibility changes by the end of July.

Why TxDOT is involved

In a May 18, 2026 letter appended to the city’s May 20, 2026 memo, TxDOT said the affected markings are not acceptable because they don’t fully comply with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD) and related federal guidance.

TxDOT pointed to TMUTCD provisions governing “aesthetic surface treatments” within crosswalks—allowing only certain materials, patterns, and color ranges—and said painted colors outside those specifications, including rainbow or other non-standard hues, are not compliant. The letter also tied the enforcement to the state’s SAFE ROADS Initiative and a governor’s directive dated October 8, 2025 emphasizing uniformity and predictability in traffic control devices.

TxDOT warned that failing to comply with the directive could lead to withholding or denial of state or federal transportation funds and/or suspension of agreements between TxDOT and the city.

How the city’s memo organized the affected sites (Groups 1–4)

TxDOT required Austin to follow different approaches depending on the location. The memo breaks the work into four groups:

• Group 1 (action plan required by June 22, 2026): 4th and Colorado; River on Lake Austin Boulevard; East 11th Street between Waller Street and Lydia Street; Guadalupe Street between W. 22nd Street and W. 24th Street; Traffic Circle at E. 22nd and Salina; Traffic Circle at 53rd and Avenue H.
• Group 2 (action plan required by June 22, 2026): Joe Sayers Avenue between Ullrich Avenue and Theckla; Arroyo Seco and Jim Hogg Avenue; Lamar Square.
• Group 3 (restore to original condition per FHWA direction): Morrow Street and Watson Street; Manor Road and Leona Street; Pedernales Street and Webberville Road; Brentwood Street at Guadalupe Street; Cumberland Road at Wilson Street.
• Group 4 (fade allowed; review in six months): West Wind Trail and Westgate Boulevard; Cougar Drive and Sahara; Fairy Alley between Treadwell Street and Dexter Street.

The memo says staff would submit the remediation action plan by June 22 and coordinate with the Mayor’s Public Spaces Task Force so the community could plan alternative treatments during the transition.

What the plan targets by the end of July

Axios reported that the city’s compliance plan for TxDOT includes covering some prominent pavement art—using methods such as black thermoplastic and seal coat—rather than simply repainting.

• West Fourth and Colorado: black thermoplastic to cover the rainbow crosswalk.
• East 11th Street: seal coat to cover the “Black Artists Matter” painted area.
• Guadalupe Street near UT Austin: seal coat to cover the burnt orange “TEXAS” painted text.

Axios also reported that Austin will have to remove a river-themed crosswalk on Lake Austin Boulevard and art at traffic circles at East 22nd and Salina and East 53rd and Avenue H. Most of the artwork targeted by TxDOT is expected to be removed by the end of July, but Axios said the Lake Austin Boulevard installation is likely to remain until late August because it must first be removed from the city’s public art collection through a City Council-approved deaccession process.

What commuters and pedestrians may notice soon

During the work windows, residents can expect near-term changes to how those crossings look—especially where painted and colored pavement treatments are being covered or replaced with compliant pavement markings. Depending on the location, that can mean temporary confusion about where a crossing begins, plus possible shifts in how people approach and use the affected intersections while crews prep pavement and apply treatments.

Commemoration planning is continuing in parallel

While the roadway markings are being addressed for compliance, the city’s Public Spaces Task Force is also working on alternatives to honor the affected areas. The City memo says the task force planned community events in June focused on East 11th Street and 4th and Colorado. Austin Current also reported that a historic marker documenting the Fourth Street district is expected to be installed in August.

Sources

• City of Austin compliance memo on TxDOT pavement-marking order (TxDOT letter dated May 18, 2026; memo dated May 20, 2026)
• Axios Austin: Austin to remove painted crosswalks by end of July (June 23, 2026)
• KUT: TxDOT denies Austin request to preserve road art (May 20, 2026)
• Spectrum Local News (Austin): Deadline arrives for Austin to submit plans to remove street murals (June 22, 2026)
• Austin Current: Preventing erasure—planning historic marker/commemoration after TxDOT-ordered removal (June 17, 2026)