New rainbow-striped crosswalks at a downtown Lexington intersection became a topic of discussion at Tuesday’s council work session.
The four permanent crosswalks, at the intersection of Limestone and Short Streets, were marked this week in advance of the city’s weekend Pride Festival.
Council member Amanda Mays Bledsoe asked if other organizations might be given similar consideration. “I think that some of the people that asked this were kind of like, well we have an idea and we’re a non-profit and we’d like to also be a part of this opportunity,” said Mays-Bledsoe.
Environmental Quality and Public Works Commissioner Dowell Hoskins Squier said other crosswalk art proposals would be considered. She was asked if the rainbow crosswalks went through an approval process.
“I don’t know if we had a formal approval process, but we certainly coordinated with traffic engineering. I mean that’s why there’s white lines on the outside of the crosswalk,” Hoskins-Squier said. “Thought that would be safer than just the color bars.”
The rainbow crosswalk art cost $13,500 with $5000 coming from the Bluegrass Community Foundation and the local government paying $8500.