Fans of the Buddy Holly crosswalk in Lubbock, Texas, will soon see the removal of the painted depiction of the rock and roll legend’s iconic glasses. The decision follows directives requiring the elimination of public roadway artwork.
The Lubbock City Council revealed this week that they must comply with a federal directive mandating the removal of any political messages or artwork from public roads. This decision is aligned with the stricter enforcement of a 2013 rule from the Federal Highway Administration regarding pedestrian safety.
Federal Directives and Safety Regulations
In July, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced increased enforcement of this rule, which states that any artwork in crosswalks, aside from specific earth tone patterns, negatively impacts pedestrian safety. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent letters to governors across the United States, indicating that federal road funding could be jeopardized if state and local jurisdictions do not comply with these regulations.
In response to the directive, Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently instructed the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure compliance with roadway safety measures, emphasizing that taxpayer money should not be used to promote political agendas on Texas roadways.
Impact and Community Response
Previous instances of removed artwork include a protest mural in Laredo, Texas, against the border wall and a rainbow-colored crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub in Florida. Lubbock’s Buddy Holly crosswalk was installed in 2020 near the Buddy Holly Center, which honors the town’s most notable native son.
City officials noted that they received a letter from the Texas Department of Transportation containing stern warnings regarding the potential loss of state or federal funding if the artwork was not removed. David Bragg, Lubbock’s interim division director of public works, conveyed this to council members, stating that while the letter was broad, it ultimately resulted in the decision affecting the Buddy Holly crosswalk.
Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer acknowledged the city’s obligation to comply, despite community interest in retaining the artwork. He mentioned that the removal will take place during routine maintenance next year.
Buddy Holly, born in Lubbock, is remembered for his influential role in rock music. He passed away at the age of 22 in a plane crash in 1959, an event memorialized in popular culture.
