In light of Federal Highway Administration concerns about safety, some cities are prohibiting artistically painted crosswalks. That’s the case in St. Louis, MO, where the city has prohibited future crosswalk art projects.
Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration explains the safety concerns to Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter, “the road surface needs to look consistent everywhere so no one is confused about where the crosswalk begins and ends.”
Consistent visual cues are vital to help drivers and pedestrians know where to expect people walking and where it is safe to walk, he says. “If it becomes art, it is something that is not identifiable as a crosswalk, and could offer a visual distraction to drivers that makes the road less safe.”
Additionally, says Hecox, state departments of transportation are at risk of not receiving federal funds if they don’t comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.
For downtown groups determined to install public art, Hecox adds this recommendation: “if art is the goal, and having some way to display local culture or aesthetics, fine, but we don’t know that a crosswalk is the best way to do it. Nearby walls or sidewalks might be a better way. We encourage them to work with their state department of transportation, [which is] a very good place to begin that conversation.”
The full article appeared in our print edition. To always get the full story, read Downtown Idea Exchange.
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