Under pressure from the state, Orlando plans to begin painting over 14 of its decorative crosswalks, starting this morning.
The decision came after the Florida Department of Transportation last week sent a city administrator a letter, informing him that 18 such crosswalks were in violation of new state policies. City officials later determined that four of the ones flagged by FDOT were actually on state roads and not in the city’s jurisdiction.
But “per the order from the state,” Orlando decided it must remove most of the decorative paintings from its streets.
The crosswalks in question are in various pockets of Orlando, including downtown, on Corinne Drive, in Thornton Park near Lake Eola, and in SoDo.
They depict citrus slices, Lake Eola’s swans and fountain and other designs. Most were installed over the past four years — some as recently as May, all with the intent to enhance road safety and beautify the city.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday the state has a new policy that requires wiping asphalt art from streets across the state, regardless of messaging, intent or even potential safety benefits.
That policy became public — and a source of outrage — last week when FDOT had a road crew, working late at night, paint over the rainbow crosswalk outside the former Pulse nightclub, now a memorial to the 49 people slain there in 2016.
“The Florida Department of Transportation has ordered the removal of some enhanced crosswalk and intersection treatments that were originally implemented by the City of Orlando as part of our investments to increase safety and the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists,” a traffic advisory released Wednesday reads. “Per the orders from the state, these previously approved treatments must be replaced with traditional pavement markings.”
Orlando, the largest city in one of the nation’s deadliest metro areas for pedestrians, embraced art to draw attention to crosswalks as a safety feature – pointing to studies showing places with asphalt art see fewer pedestrian crashes and higher rates of drivers yielding to people crossing streets.
“Despite the orders from the state, the city remains committed to working to create a safe environment for pedestrians, cyclists and all roadway users,” the advisory reads.
The state took matters into its own hands with the city’s most famous decorative crosswalk: a rainbow on Orange Avenue at Esther Street next to Pulse, installed as a remembrance to those killed there on June 12, 2016.
An FDOT crew painted over the rainbow just before midnight on Thursday and was back again Saturday night after protestors repainted the rainbow.
Orlando’s contractor will begin work immediately to meet the state’s Sept. 4 deadline, and will work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in hopes of minimizing traffic disruption.
The list of impacted areas are:
South Rosalind Avenue at East Jackson Street
Church Street at South Rosalind Avenue
Magnolia Avenue at East Concord Street
Orange Avenue at Concord Street
North Orange Avenue at East Central Boulevard
South Orange Avenue at East Pine Street
South Orange Avenue at Church Street
Summerlin Avenue at Washington Street
Amelia Street at Ronald Blocker Avenue
Amelia Street at Chatham Avenue
Amelia Street at Putnam Avenue
Central Boulevard at North Eola Drive
West Kaley Avenue at South Division Avenue
Corrine Drive at East End Avenue
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
