Binghamton’s Rainbow Crosswalk Is About to Vanish

The "rainbow crosswalk" in downtown Binghamton is gradually disappearing and it soon will be history. But the city plans to repaint the crossing in the future.

The crosswalk at the intersection of Henry and Washington streets near the Federal Building was painted by the city in 2023 to recognize LGBTQ+ residents.

The "rainbow" crossing was one of several special colorful crosswalk treatments that were added as part of developing a downtown art district. The project started with a major reconstruction of State Street between Henry and Lewis streets.

In recent weeks, a section of the rainbow crosswalk has been vanishing during the reconstruction of a block of Washington Street.

The current phase of the art district "streetscape" improvements is scheduled to be completed next spring.

Although the construction project means the rainbow crosswalk will be paved over,  it will be restored.

Mayor Jared Kraham told WNBF News "once that street is all done, that will be reinstalled."

In an email, Deputy Mayor Megan Heiman noted the city painted the special crosswalk early in Kraham's term "in partnership with the Pride Coalition."

Not everyone celebrates rainbow crosswalks. Sean Duffy, the U.S. transportation secretary, is among those who have criticized them.

Duffy in July posted a message on social media stating taxpayers "expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks."

Duffy said "political banners have no place on public roads." He said he was reminding those who receive federal transportation funding that the use of the money is "limited to features advancing safety, and nothing else."

State officials in Florida and Texas have ordered the removal of "rainbow crosswalks" and crosswalks with non-standard markings.

This story was updated to include comments from the deputy mayor.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.