Florida orders Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale to remove rainbow crosswalks – NBC 6 South Florida
Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale are being ordered to remove their rainbow crosswalks – or risk losing millions of dollars in state and federal transportation funding.
The directive comes from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which sent multiple cities across the state 14-day notices to take down Pride-themed crosswalks and street art.
Miami Beach pushes back
One of the most well-known crosswalks is at 12th Street and Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, installed seven years ago. FDOT argues the pastel rainbow artwork poses a safety risk for both drivers and pedestrians. But city statistics suggest otherwise.
According to crash data, the intersection at 12th and Ocean has had just 15 accidents since the artwork was installed in 2018 — fewer than neighboring intersections at 10th Street (37 crashes) and 13th Street (23 crashes).
City Commissioner Alex Fernandez called the rainbow crosswalk “a symbol of safety and inclusivity,” adding, “We must appeal the state’s order. If the state denies our appeal, then we need to consider all of our options…to protect the rights of our community, to protect the visibility.”
State’s reasoning
The state’s order stems from a May FDOT memo that banned surface pavement art tied to “social, political, or ideological messages” that do not serve a traffic control purpose. FDOT says such markings can cause distractions or confusion that compromise roadway safety.
But Fernandez disagreed, saying, “It’s a sign of tolerance, of inclusivity, of being welcoming to all people. To start chipping away at these symbols…it’s a dangerous path forward.”
Fort Lauderdale joins the fight
Fort Lauderdale’s mayor, Dean Trantalis, echoed those concerns after FDOT ordered the removal of Pride-themed art near Sebastian Beach and at three other intersections.
“We know this has nothing to do with traffic safety,” he said. “This has everything to do with eliminating the visibility of the LGBT community.”
Orlando crosswalk painted over
The state has already taken action in Orlando, where FDOT crews painted over the rainbow crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub — the site of a 2016 mass shooting that killed 49 people. After word spread, neighbors used chalk to restore the colors.
Trantalis said state leaders should focus on other priorities.
“Honestly I wish the state would focus more on affordable insurance, homelessness, and finding affordable housing,” he said.
