The future of a Lubbock crosswalk memorializing a music legend remains uncertain after a directive from the Texas governor.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure counties and cities are in compliance with federal and state guidelines regarding roadway safety.
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Specifically, federal and state guidelines for roadway safety prohibit non-standard surface markings, signage, and signals that do not directly support traffic control or safety, including the use of symbols, flags, or other markings conveying social, political, or ideological messages.
“Texans expect their taxpayer dollars to be used wisely, not advance political agendas on Texas roadways,” said Governor Abbott. “Today, I directed the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure Texas counties and cities remove any and all political ideologies from our streets. To keep Texans moving safely and free from distraction, we must maintain a safe and consistent transportation network across Texas.”
An aerial view from a drone as residents view the “End Racism Now” mural painted on Main Street in downtown on June 28, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. Local artists partnered with volunteers to paint the message after being inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and recent protest following the death of George Floyd.
This comes at a time when there is national debate within several states on whether to keep or remove roadway paintings or markings for certain political, social and ideological movements, like the removal of “rainbow walkways” in Florida.
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Abbott also said that any city that refuses to comply with the federal road standards will face consequences, including the withholding or denial of state and federal road funding and suspension of agreements with TxDOT.
While Lubbock does not have any city-produced rainbow-painted crosswalks, it does have a crosswalk painted at the intersection of 18th Street and Crickets Avenue in honor of music legend Buddy Holly.
Those crosswalks were updated with an image of Buddy Holly’s iconic glasses in 2020, according to Avalanche-Journal reporting at the time.
The crosswalk was first publicly discussed during a work session months before that, when the new downtown master plan was presented to the city council. This crosswalk was mentioned as a beautification project that pays tribute to the Lubbock native who was born Sept. 7, 1936. He had numerous hits during his short, but quickly rising, career including “Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy!,” “That’ll Be the Day,” and “Everyday,” among others.
The cross walk now featuring images of Holly’s iconic glasses is at 18th Street and Crickets Avenue, the intersection north of the Buddy Holly Center and the Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza.
The Avalanche-Journal reached out to the city to see if the governor’s directive would impact the Buddy Holly crosswalks.
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David Bragg, the City of Lubbock’s interim division director of Public Works, said that the city was notified of the governor’s directive and that “city leadership is looking into the matter to see if the installations at the locations identified are prohibited by this announcement.”
No action by the city has immediately been announced.
Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock reviews Buddy Holly crosswalks after Texas governor’s order
