My name is Jason, and I’m part of the Civic Engagement Team at Change.org. Our mission is to connect petition supporters with decision makers and to help foster healthy civic engagement in our communities.

We reached out to the City of Victoria about the crosswalk art. Below is the City’s message, one they also passed along to the petition starter, shared here in full for everyone’s awareness:

Good morning,

Thank you for your message. We truly appreciate your support of public art in Victoria, and we completely understand your concerns about the removal of the downtown crosswalk art.

As you know, in October, the City of Victoria received notice of new statewide regulations that prohibit all non-standard markings on crosswalks, including non-political artwork such as the crosswalk art in downtown Victoria.

Unfortunately, the City does not meet the state’s narrow criteria for an exemption. City officials have been in communication with TxDOT on this topic, and under the new regulations, the City does not have grounds to seek an exemption.

We share in residents’ disappointment about the removal of the crosswalk art. The City has fully supported the crosswalk art project since its inception as part of our overall goal of making downtown a more attractive destination for Victoria residents and visitors alike.

We remain thankful to the community members who made this project possible, including the artists who contributed their time and talents as well as the private sponsors who funded the project at no cost to taxpayers. These individuals’ vision and dedication allowed us to have these beautiful works of art that were enjoyed by so many residents, even if it was only temporary.

The dedication of these artists and sponsors, along with support from people like you, is the reason that Victoria has a growing culture of public art and beautification. The City of Victoria remains committed to continuing these efforts in collaboration with residents.

Thank you again for taking the time to express your support.

Victoria, TX Department of Communications & Public Affairs