Colorful, engaging crosswalks aren’t the norm, but they’re popping up around the country. And while they aren’t in line with federal guidelines, they have transformed streets and intersections.

Brett Dahlberg reports on the creative crosswalks of Rochester, New York, including one near a music school that looks like piano keys. "Just off Main Street, in Rochester's Beechwood neighborhood, there's another colorful intersection. The sidewalks here are green, the crosswalks are blue, and there's a big, red and yellow sun that covers the whole street. The art has been here a little over a year."
Advocates say these interesting crosswalks bring benefits far beyond just adding an artistic element to public spaces. They also slow down traffic, make spaces safer and more inviting, and get people out of their cars. "[Rochester resident Joseph] Hutchings says the intersection art makes a big difference for families. He says there are more children outside playing and more adults walking places or riding bikes," notes Dahlberg.
But, he says, federal guidelines for crosswalks are specific about features like the transverse white lines, line spacing, and the type of reflective paint that needs to be used. Some cities have abandoned their colorful crosswalks after the Federal Highway Administration deemed them distracting to drivers.
FULL STORY: Walking On Painted Keys: Creative Crosswalks Meet Government Resistance

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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