REPORT TO CULTURAL COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Review and Recommend a Preferred Rainbow Crosswalk Location and Design to City Council
Report
BACKGROUND
The City’s Capital Improvement Program Budget (CIP Budget) includes $100,000 for a project titled, Rainbow Crosswalk. This project was added during the June 25, 2024 City Council meeting, where the Council directed staff to install one rainbow-colored crosswalk in the City. The concept of a rainbow crosswalk was originally proposed through a written petition submitted by Councilmember Becker on October 11, 2021 and was also included on the City Council’s Priority Setting list. Rainbow-colored crosswalks have been utilized by many municipalities as a display of support for the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) community.
DISCUSSION
Aesthetic treatments at crosswalks are considered forms of artwork; therefore, this item is being presented to the Cultural Commission for consideration. Staff is requesting that the Cultural Commission review and recommend a preferred rainbow crosswalk location and design to the City Council.
Staff researched regulatory guidelines regarding rainbow crosswalks, rainbow crosswalks in other municipalities, potential locations in Santa Clara, and identified two recommended crosswalk locations along with a proposed design.
Regulatory Guidance
In June 2024, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that aesthetic surface treatments, such as rainbow-colored artwork in crosswalks, are not considered traffic control devices. Consequently, these treatments are not regulated by the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) which the City follows for the installation and maintenance of traffic control devices in Santa Clara. It should be noted that while rainbow-colored artwork can be added on roadways, traditional roadway markings, including crosswalk markings (i.e. white pavement markings), must still be installed, and cannot be entirely replaced by artwork.
Locations
The following location characteristics are recommended for the installation of a rainbow-colored crosswalk to maintain/ enhance traffic safety:
• Pedestrian Activity: Locations should have more than average pedestrian traffic for artwork to enhance the visibility of both the crosswalk and pedestrians.
• Lower Vehicle Volume and Speed: Streets should have lower vehicle volume and speed levels, so the artwork is more noticeable to motorists without causing distractions that might disrupt orderly traffic movements.
• Crosswalk Types: The crosswalk chosen should not include crosswalks at signalized intersections (i.e. at traffic signals) due to the level of traffic activity at these locations. As such, staff recommends that a rainbow crosswalk only be considered for stand-alone crosswalks such as those at mid-block (in the middle of a block), at a Stop Sign crosswalk, or at an uncontrolled crosswalk (i.e. a striped pedestrian crossing where motorists do not have a traffic control device (i.e. stop sign, traffic signal) controlling their movement across the crosswalk).
Based on these desired characteristics, the following two candidate locations have been identified for the installation of a rainbow crosswalk:
1. Monroe Street at Franklin Street (Staff Recommendation)
2. Warburton Avenue crosswalk at City Hall to Triton Museum
Aerial photos and images of these locations are provided in Attachment 1.
Rainbow-Colored Artwork
Staff researched sample rainbow crosswalks installed in other municipalities and recommends a design that that incorporates the relevant LGBTQIA+ colors consistent with the colors recently utilized for the City’s Pride Flag raising ceremony in June 2024 (Attachment 2). The colors utilized include: (1) the original Pride flag colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet and (2) additional colors added recently including black, brown, pink, light blue, and white. Each color and what it represents is indicated below:
• Red - Life
• Orange - Healing
• Yellow - Sunlight
• Green - Nature
• Blue - Serenity
• Violet - Spirit
• Black and Brown - People of Color
• Pink, light blue and White - Transgender community, reflecting traditional gender colors and those who identify outside the binary.
Additionally, to facilitate the installation and on-going maintenance of the rainbow-colored artwork, staff recommends a design where the rainbow colors are individual stripes that run perpendicular to a pedestrian’s path of travel. Staff’s recommended design is included as Attachment 3.
Next Steps
If the Cultural Commission recommends a location and design for a Rainbow Crosswalk in Santa Clara, staff will proceed with presenting this item for Council consideration in the first quarter of 2025.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Cultural Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Review and recommend a preferred rainbow crosswalk location and design to City Council.
Staff
Written by: Steve Chan, Transportation Manager, Public Works
Approved by: Michael Liw, Assistant Director/City Engineer, Public Works
ATTACHMENTS [Delete if N/A]
1. Rainbow Crosswalk Locations
2. Rainbow Flag Sample
3. Rainbow Crosswalk Artwork