Yesterday, I found myself standing a little too close to the path of an oncoming bus.

I was still on the sidewalk, but right by the edge. Thankfully the driver of said bus noted my oblivious stance and vigorously honked while approaching. And for that, I must say thank you. Really, on behalf of me, my cranium, and the other nearby pedestrians, who surely would have possessed some traumatic associations with that corner had things gone differently, Thanks again.

The location was the intersection of 16th and Euclid Streets, on the edge of Adams Morgan and right across the street from Meridian Hill Park. It’s a busy road with narrow sidewalks and high volumes of traffic speeding down one of the city’s steepest hills. And that’s just one part of a worrisome stretch of 16th Street highlighted in the District’s Pedestrian Master Plan, released yesterday.

The report, prepared by the District Department of Transportation, identified “high priority corridors” in each ward, deserving of more attention, faster sidewalk repairs and greater protection for pedestrians near construction sites.  Here are roads the city is focused on improving (recommendations here):

Ward 1: 16th Street NW from Massachusetts Ave NW to Spring Road NW
Ward 2: New York Ave NW to NE from 15th St NW to Penn St. NE
Ward 3: Wisconsin Ave NW from Western Ave NW to Woodley Rd NW
Ward 4: New Hampshire Ave NW to NE from Park Road NW to Peabody St NE
Ward 5: Bladensburg Rd NE from Benning Rd NE to Eastern Ave NE
Ward 6: M Street SW/SE from 6th St SW to Isaac Hull SE
Ward 7: East Capitol St NE from B St NE to Division Ave NE
Ward 8: Alabama Ave SE from MLK Jr. SE to Naylor Rd SE

Image by B Tal, Flickr Creative Commons