The City of Dallas is moving forward with installing new highway signs reflecting the renaming of a portion of Lamar Street to Botham Jean Boulevard. On Thursday, the City of Dallas posted on X that it had approved funding for 13 new signs along I-45, SH 310, and US 175.
The original street renaming took place on January 13, 2021, when the Dallas City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 31744, renaming a portion of South Lamar Street as Botham Jean Boulevard. A dedication ceremony was held on March 27, 2021. While local street signs were updated at that time, freeway signs along I-45, US 175, and other routes continued to display the old “Lamar Street” name. The current project funds new highway signs to correct that long-standing discrepancy.
The City of Dallas X post on May 14 highlighted the project’s goal: “This ensures our infrastructure reflects the history & people that shape our city.”
Did you know? Dallas approved funding for 13 new hwy signs along I-45, SH 310, and US 175 to update Lamar St to Botham Jean Blvd. This ensures our infrastructure reflects the history & people that shape our city.
To learn the history of this name change: https://t.co/44hlEeGB2v pic.twitter.com/LckFl3s55X
— City of Dallas (@CityOfDallas) May 14, 2026
Botham Jean Boulevard honors Botham Jean, a 26-year-old accountant originally from St. Lucia, who was fatally shot in his Dallas apartment on September 6, 2018, by then-Dallas Police Department officer Amber Guyger.
Guyger was convicted of murder by a jury in October 2019 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She appealed her conviction and sentence. In August 2021, the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals upheld both the conviction and the 10-year sentence. In March 2022, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied her further appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court later rejected her final petition, as The Dallas Express reported at the time.
Process and Cost to Rename a Road in Dallas
Renaming a street in Dallas typically begins with an application through the City’s Planning and Development Department or City Council initiative. For full name changes, the process requires review by multiple departments (often 14 or more), public hearings, notification to property owners, and City Council approval. It can impact addressing, emergency services, and mapping systems.
Costs vary widely. Local street sign replacements are relatively modest, but updating highway signs — which require TxDOT coordination and comply with federal standards — can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
City officials cited the need for consistency between local streets and highway signage. According to recent reporting, the City of Dallas will pay TxDOT $180,500 to install the 13 signs.
Larger projects, including design, fabrication, installation, and removal of old signs, drive up expenses. Property owners or petitioners sometimes share costs, though city funds often cover major infrastructure updates.
The City of Dallas maintains a formal street naming policy under its code, with additional guidelines for ceremonial namings that add toppers without changing the legal name (to avoid disrupting emergency services).
No timeline for installation was specified in the city’s announcement, but work is expected to proceed in coordination with TxDOT.
Other Recent Road Name Change Developments in Dallas
In addition to Botham Jean Boulevard, city leaders are discussing the potential renaming of César Chávez Boulevard, a nearly two-mile stretch near the Dallas Farmers Market. This comes as the repercussions of the sexual abuse claims against the late labor leader are still unfolding, and information is coming to light regarding the identities of his accusers – among them are two women who allege they were minors when the abuse started, as reported previously by The Dallas Express.
Another notable change involved S.M. Wright Road/Freeway, which was officially renamed to better honor the civil rights icon.
