If you’ve been walking past the intersection of 14th and S streets NW recently (or checked out the small photo we ran in today’s Morning Roundup and wondered what it was) you’ve probably noticed the new, patterned crosswalk in the road that dots the streets with white swirls and colorful stars. We got curious as to what exactly it was (Borf making a dramatic comeback, maybe?), how exactly it got there, and if it would be showing up elsewhere in the city. A quick call to the District Department of Transportation answered all our questions and more. Real reporting, folks: it works.

Erik Linden of DDOT told us that the crosswalk was installed two weeks ago and is a pilot program of stamped, patterned crosswalks that add artistic value to the streets and will hopefully make crosswalks more noticeable to drivers. The process involves “literally stamping the roadway using a machine that looks like a giant waffle iron,” he said, using designs by a company called Duratherm.

“The idea is to create a distinctive and colorful pattern in the crosswalk to help highlight it and increase pedestrian safety,” Linden said.

D.C. was motivated by the success of these sorts of crosswalks in other cities, from Philadelphia to Scottsdale, Arizona, and Linden says that if the crosswalk withstands the winter weather, the District will most likely start installing them in other parts of the city.

There you go! So, what do you think of the crosswalk? What other parts of the city would you like to see them in?

Photo posted to DCist photos by Eye Captain