Gainesville announces removal of rainbow crosswalks will begin on Monday
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The City of Gainesville announced this morning that crews will begin work on Monday, August 25, to remove and replace three rainbow crosswalks in downtown Gainesville.
During the City Commission’s August 21 meeting, Special Advisor for Infrastructure Brian Singleton said he had just gotten off the phone with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Secretary Greg Evans, who said FDOT would be sending a letter describing an administrative appeal process. Singleton said, “He didn’t have any specifics to share with me at this time, but that will be outlined in the letter, about what our options might be and what kind of flexibility there may be.” He said he expected the letter by the end of the week.
However, the City announced this morning that in a letter dated August 21, FDOT reiterated that all Florida crosswalks must conform to standards set by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Florida Statute 316.0745.
Removal of the colored bricks is scheduled to be completed by the state-mandated deadline of Thursday, Sept. 4. If the City of Gainesville fails to make the crosswalks compliant by that date, FDOT has stated it will pursue withholding of state funds.
The affected crosswalks are at the following locations:
- SE First Street between SE First Avenue and East University Avenue
- SE Second Place at SE First Street
- NE First Avenue at NE First Street
Crews will close one lane at a time, and detours will be in place to guide drivers around work zones.
The City will replace the colored bricks with current stock. Crews will attempt to preserve the original bricks for possible use in future projects.
That’s stupid.
In the crosswalk case, a local government was violating standards from the state and federal governments (while acknowledging those are the standards but hoping for an exemption), and the state decided to enforce the standards.
A corollary might be if a local government wasn’t enforcing a law (on speeding, for example, maybe due to a lack of resources) and then decided to enforce it.
A government imposing an “emergency” edict (that went on here for almost a year and a half) that citizens must cover their faces to engage in any public activity isn’t anything like either of those cases.
So sad…..no more skipping across the rainbow feeling ever so virtuous.
The unfree Fascist state of Florida acts early to keep the Gov in front of the campaign to be the next MAGA presidential candidate.
This is a white man’s movement which is busy cancelling minority groups from the present and history. Beyond the firings of minority military leaders and historic figures, any programs aimed at majority black, hispanic, or female populations – a federal program in Alalabama to help update non-functioning aged septic systems where most were black has been cancelled for that reason, a federal program to aid Hispanic enrollment heavy colleges is being cancelled, Ag dept programs aiding mostly black farmers are ending, and of course this is the party that cancelled abortion rights for women – not a minority – and somehow a majority of white women voted for the sexual predator – that’s an undeniable fact – primarily responsible for this gross violation of public will. The only “freedom” in this act is the govenor and president’s freedom to dictate us and local governments their perverse will.
I left out the Texas redistricting and Florida’s in 2022 that wiped out likely black congressional districts for more lily white Republicans who are way over represented in Congress. By all accounts, the stolen SC majority will probably wipe out the Voting Rights Acts restrictions on the deep south states which continue their shameless and racist gerrymandering if given the chance.
Equity is not equality
and?
For those likely to ready to take up their pitchforks and signs…
🎨+🖌️+34th🧱 = 🌈(😁)
Express yourself. Go have a good time.
They should use the rainbow bricks to make a rainbow at a LGBTQ private business or pride center parking lot. Since bedroom matters are privacy matters.
Agreed!
Why do gay people need this?
Sweet!
When you cannot address the disastrous insurance and real estate property market you manufacture stupid culture wars that have absolutely no impact on the lives of people in Florida. I don’t care what color the cross walk is – do something about the ridiculous cost of living in this state!
Another distraction from the 10 million his wife charity stole
Real estate taxes and their often accompanying assessments are local.
See City, County and School Board recent votes on property taxes.
Agreed. I attended U.F. there ’67 – ’71. Thanks to tRump wanting to lower the nation’s education system down to his level of stupidity, we have political idiots concentrating on the irrelevant. Oh, having left FL in ’72, I have ZERO interest in going back.As you point out, it is a political and financial mess largely because of greed, improper business management, egomaniacal politicians, and outright wackos like Rick Scott.
So glad to hear that you are staying away from Fla….Maybe you’ll convince your friends and family to steer clear as well. Did your student status keep you out of the military?
Bone spurs
Now get rid of the graffiti on the 34th street wall.
That’s exactly where you can paint your rainbows! As many as you want! Bonus: You get to do it yourself AND pay for your own paint 🤯
Just sand and paint over. Trying to rip up the road and “save the bricks” like they are holy objects is absurd. They probably want to make a big spectacle that will carry over into next weekend for the first home game. Git ‘er done ASAP. Put this shameful woke-era embarrassment behind us and stop speaking about it.
No one cares if rainbow people are attracted to the wacky wavy inflatable tube guy or identity as a dolphin that blows bubbles and poops glitter. That’s amazing! Just stop using the money I don’t have for something that has nothing to do with me. I’m not having sex with these rainbow people so why are they getting my money 😂 I’m trying to pay my own damn bills. I can’t afford rainbows and feelings
I prefer the commission to apply my taxes for its intended use such as public safety and maintenance and improvement of city infrastructure etc. Special pet projects should be a voluntary donation. That’s my logic.
How is it fiscally responsible to pay a crew to replace a functional crosswalk. This is LIBERAL spending and as Republicans we should be ashamed to support wasted tax revenue just because “The geys” make you angry.
Bifröst forever
They get rainbows on one corner, the big raised black power fist on another, confederate flag on the next one and some Nazi swastikas all in between. Represent everyone or no one. Do for one that you do for all. Or… just stop being stupid with other people’s money and focus on the business of the tax payer! Leave the personal gay crap at home.
The city can save aprox. $25,000 by painting over the bricks instead of painting them.
Grok AI:
Cost Analysis: Painting vs. Replacing Bricks in Gainesville (2025)
The rainbow crosswalk removal involves three locations in downtown Gainesville (SE First St., SE Second Pl., NE First Ave.), with the city replacing colored bricks with standard ones by September 4, 2025, to meet FDOT’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Florida Statute 316.0745 requirements. I’ll estimate costs for painting the existing rainbow bricks (to make them MUTCD-compliant, e.g., white or neutral) versus replacing them with new standard bricks, using 2025 Gainesville data.
Assumptions
Crosswalk Size: A standard crosswalk is ~12 ft wide (road width) x 6 ft long (typical MUTCD crosswalk bar length), with 6-8 bars per crosswalk. Assuming 8 bars, one crosswalk is ~576 sq ft (12 ft x 6 ft x 8 bars). Three crosswalks total ~1,728 sq ft.
Painting: Involves cleaning, priming (if needed), and applying MUTCD-compliant paint (e.g., white latex-based paint for masonry).
Replacement: Involves removing colored bricks, disposing of them, and installing standard bricks, per Gainesville’s plan to preserve original bricks for future use.
Location: Gainesville, FL, with 2025 cost estimates adjusted for local labor and material rates.
Cost of Painting Bricks
Based on 2025 data for painting brick surfaces in Gainesville:
Cost per Square Foot: $2.59–$4.87/sq ft, including labor, materials, and equipment.
Breakdown:
Paint and Supplies: $600–$1,000 for 1,728 sq ft (masonry paint, primer, brushes, rollers).
Labor: $1.50–$3.50/sq ft in Gainesville, totaling $2,592–$6,048 for 1,728 sq ft.
Prep (Power Washing, Cleaning): $200–$400 per project.
Equipment (Sprayer Rental): $69–$103 per job.
Total for 1,728 sq ft:
Low-End: $2.59/sq ft x 1,728 sq ft = $4,475 + $200 (prep) + $69 (equipment) = $4,744.
High-End: $4.87/sq ft x 1,728 sq ft = $8,415 + $400 (prep) + $103 (equipment) = $8,918.
Average: $6,831 ($3.73/sq ft x 1,728 sq ft + $300 prep + $86 equipment).
Cost of Replacing Bricks
Replacing bricks involves removal, disposal, and installation of new standard bricks. Costs are less detailed in sources, so I’ll estimate based on general brick replacement data and Gainesville’s context:
Cost per Square Foot: Brick replacement is significantly costlier than painting. Sources suggest $10–$20/sq ft for brick installation (excluding removal), with removal adding $2–$5/sq ft. In Gainesville, labor costs are lower than in larger Florida cities (e.g., Miami, $15–$25/sq ft).
Breakdown:
Materials (Standard Bricks): $5–$10/sq ft for concrete pavers or clay bricks (MUTCD-compliant for crosswalks).
Removal and Disposal: $2–$5/sq ft, including labor and waste fees.
Installation Labor: $5–$10/sq ft in Gainesville.
Equipment (Masonry Tools, Compactors): $100–$200 per project.
Total for 1,728 sq ft:
Low-End: ($5 materials + $2 removal + $5 labor) x 1,728 sq ft = $20,736 + $100 (equipment) = $20,836.
High-End: ($10 materials + $5 removal + $10 labor) x 1,728 sq ft = $43,200 + $200 (equipment) = $43,400.
Average: $32,118 ($7.50 materials + $3.50 removal + $7.50 labor x 1,728 sq ft + $150 equipment).
Cost Savings
Savings (Average): Replacing bricks costs $32,118, while painting costs $6,831, yielding $25,287 in savings (78.7% cheaper).
Savings Range:
Low-End: $20,836 (replacement) – $8,918 (painting) = $11,918 (57.2% savings).
High-End: $43,400 (replacement) – $4,744 (painting) = $38,656 (89.1% savings).
The cost would’ve been $0 if the crosswalks weren’t unlawfully painted to begin with and the city complied with public safety laws. But here we are, yet again, watching the commission wasting money we don’t have. The money, time and resources needed to return the crosswalks (which we’ve already paid for) to their original state could’ve been applied to our police/fire departments.
I see other cities with painted sidewalks…one city painted “Black Lives Matter”…there is no valid reason to remove these colored sidewalks ,as it certainly appears to be the fact, that many people hate other people..those that are not the same belief,skin color,sexual orientation,etc as those that want to just destroy …this population group think they are the only normal people walking on the face of this planet….but history has shown that the world has cruel hearted and kind hearted people…
They are symbols of far-left progressive ideology. Normal gay/lesbian/bi people don’t care. Just the crazy old irrational progressives (mostly women) whose brains have seen better days. Go to a psychiatrist if you think wanting to have normal, non-leftist/non-progressive streets is “hate.” We don’t care.
Speaking of going to a psychiatrist Peabody, this regular ranting by you about older women is becoming embarrassing. Look into that will you?
Are pedestrians most visible on a rainbowed crosswalk or a standard white crosswalk? Seems relevant because the purpose of crosswalks is public safety. Isn’t it?
So…if there is a rainbow in the sky, does that mean the gays are trying to indoctrinate God?! The rainbow is everyone’s. It’s not just for the LGBQT community. This is ridiculous and hateful. Fascism over acceptance. Hate over love thy neighbor. Mind your own damn business over being a Karen to the world. Seriously shameful. Try fixing real issues!!! These are distraction tactics. Wake up to what’s really happening people.
Actually it’s Him reminding us of something.
The rainbow as a crosswalk doesn’t represent me. Ever wonder why they’re only in the downtown area?