Federal crackdown on intersection designs puts Monterey’s rainbow crosswalk at potential risk
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — The controversy surrounding rainbow crosswalks in Monterey continues to stir debate as federal transportation officials call for stricter enforcement of road safety standards.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued warnings about what it describes as “political artwork” on roads and intersections, urging municipalities to remove any potentially distracting markings, including colorful crosswalks meant to symbolize unity and inclusivity.
What began as a community-driven effort to promote diversity and visibility is now under scrutiny. Monterey’s rainbow crosswalk was privately funded and installed with support from residents.
The future of the crosswalk remains unclear, as questions linger about whether it violates federal regulations.
“We love the fact that everybody is included. And this is just a no brainer. You should always be very, very, always inclusive,” Laura Levere said.
Federal officials argue that crosswalks and intersections should be kept free from political messages or other visual distractions.
But many locals say the rainbow colors are far from disruptive they’re meaningful.
“I think, expressions like this are needed. So, I think, it would be not the greatest decision,” Bill Potter said.
City Manager Hans Uslar weighed in on the matter, explaining that the city is following national guidelines. “We are following the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). As of today, we have not seen any guidance or change in standards coming from FHWA or Caltrans,” his statement read.
Despite federal concerns, some residents say the colorful design has the opposite of a distracting effect.
“This is really just a superficial impression, is that, anything that causes the drivers to slow down and be more cautious is probably something that's positive,” Bill Potter said.
“Seven primary colors that’s going to go by in a flash. You know, advertising, you know, that’s done way more to distract me while I’m driving,” Daniel Skondin said.
“I think that it makes the fact that it is a crosswalk more visible, and ultimately safer. There’s a lot of crosswalks down here in Monterey that I’ve almost been hit in. And I wish that they’d been a little bit better marked,” Elizabeth said.
As of now, the State of California has not responded to the federal warnings or indicated whether cities like Monterey will be required to repaint rainbow crosswalks.
The community continues to wait for clarity on whether their symbol of inclusion will be allowed to stay.
