Victoria Ordered to Remove Downtown Crosswalk Art

Just days ago, Corpus Christi was being forced to scrub their murals, and now Victoria’s next in line.

The City of Victoria just announced that all crosswalk art downtown must be removed under the same TxDOT “Safe Roads” regulations. Just like Corpus, our downtown art, the pieces that made De Leon Plaza feel alive again, are now being erased.

According to the city’s official statement, Victoria must comply or risk losing state funding. The city says it’s grateful to everyone who brought the art to life, but the removal is non-negotiable under TxDOT’s new statewide rule banning “non-standard roadway markings.

Rules are rules, and the city's hands are tied, but it all seems like such a loss. That art brought color, personality, and a sense of pride to downtown. It made people stop, take pictures, and feel something about Victoria.

And it’s not just us. Corpus Christi lost 25 public art pieces, including murals that doubled as community projects. If it can happen there and here, what city is next? According to the initiative, all cities will have the same regulations applied.

Maybe it’s just paint to TxDOT, but to the artists, volunteers, and everyone who helped bring downtown Victoria to life, it’s a heartbreak.

If you want to see what we’re losing, scroll through the photos while they’re still up and tag your memories with #DowntownVictoria  before it’s all gone.