The City of San Antonio announced on June 20 that the City Council authorized the creation of a Community Crosswalk Program that will allow decorative elements at crosswalks across the city.
The rainbow crosswalk that was installed last year at the corner of Evergreen and North Main served as the inspiration for “artistic” crosswalks in other parts of the city. In that instance, Pride San Antonio, community activists and District 1 Councilman Roberto C. Treviño worked together to raise $19,832.24 to install the artistic crosswalk.
“The Pride Crosswalk has proven it is possible to include more artwork on streets throughout San Antonio that is safe and representative of the surrounding community,” Treviño said in a statement. “Artistic crosswalks can also help give residents and visitors a sense of place as they travel across this beautiful and diverse city.”
The Department of Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) has been working with City Council Transportation Committee since February to develop the final guidelines for the program.
According to TCI, which will oversee the program:
- “Community Crosswalks may be sponsored by individuals or organizations that have a connection with the community where the proposed crosswalk is to be located. The program sponsor will be responsible for funding all of the proposed artistic crosswalk and on-going maintenance of the Community Crosswalk.
- “The program sponsor will also be responsible to conduct outreach and obtain consensus from the community regarding the Community Crosswalk project including signatures of support from adjacent property owners as well as a letter of support from the City Councilmember(s) representing the district(s) in which the Community Crosswalk is located.”
“The primary purpose of a crosswalk is to help and guide pedestrians along city streets,” said Art Reinhardt, interim deputy director for the city’s Transportation and Capital Improvements Department. “However, we look forward to the opportunity to engage residents through this creative use of infrastructure.”
