JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A rainbow crosswalk in Jacksonville’s 5 Points area could be in jeopardy after a new federal initiative is calling for all roads with political messages or artwork to be removed, citing safety concerns.
In a letter to every governor, U.S Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked that their states participate in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Safe Arterials for Everyone through Reliable Operations and Distraction-Reducing Strategies—SAFE ROADS—initiative.
The program targets non-freeway arterial roads where more than half of U.S. roadway deaths occur.
Duffy said in his letter that intersections and crosswalks need to be kept “free from distractions.” This includes political messages of any nature, artwork, or anything else that “detracts from the core mission of driver and pedestrian safety,” according to a release.
“Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork,” Duffy said.
The initiative could mean the rainbow crosswalk in 5 Points could be removed.
The crosswalk made its debut in August 2024 on Lomax Street and was painted by Danielle Cleary of Heartspace Art, paid for by Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP), and was supported by Councilmember Jimmy Peluso and The Aids Memorial Project of Northeast Florida, RAP said.
“The rainbow crosswalks aim to secure this place in our community to welcome and uplift anyone who needs it,” a blog post from the Riverside Avondale Preservation said last year.
As part of the federal initiative, governors across the country have 60 days to direct their departments of transportation, in working with their metropolitan partners, to:
- Use available safety data, analysis and assessments to identify a list of arterial segments, including intersections, with potential or documented safety or operational concerns that will be addressed.
- Submit list of these segments to the Federal Highway Administration.
