Washington

Washington

Spokane To Implement Drought Response Ordinance

The city council voted to override a veto of the ordinance by the mayor, enacting new water conservation measures.

June 8, 2022 - City of Spokane

A sign, with the blue ocean int he background, reads "Tsunami Hazard Zone: In Case of Earthquake Go to Higher Ground or Inland"

Tsunami Defenses a Tough Sell in the Pacific Northwest

The experience of communities and school districts attempting to build elevated structures for residents to wait out the high water of a tsunami, an inevitable threat in the Pacific Northwest, has been challenging and impossible to differing degrees.

May 29, 2022 - Crosscut

Community Transit buses at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Bus System Redesign Paired With New Light Rail Service Near Seattle

Community Transit, the public transit authority for Snohomish County, Washington, is redesigning its bus system to plan ahead for the Lynwood Link Extension, currently more than halfway done with construction.

May 25, 2022 - The Urbanist

Mount Rainier

New Community Engagement Practices for Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update

A major update of Seattle’s comprehensive plan is just getting under way, with new opportunities for local groups to get involved with outreach and engagement.

May 16, 2022 - Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

Bus riders wearing masks on a New York City bus

Post-Pandemic Transit Likely To Remain Less Commuter-Focused

While the future of transit ridership depends on a range of still-uncertain factors, the commuter-centric patterns that characterized pre-COVID transit service are probably a thing of the past.

May 11, 2022 - Seattle Transit Blog

A very large yacht at berth in Washington, with wooded hills in the background.

Superyachts Calling the Shots for How Light Rail Gets Built in Seattle

Determinations made by the Coast Guard to accommodate superyachts will affect the price of light rail and other bridge projects in Seattle and environs.

May 4, 2022 - The Urbanist

Shishmaref

Coastal Tribes Facing Numerous Existential Threats From Climate Change

From Alaska to Washington, climate change is real, and it’s here now, for indigenous tribes.

May 2, 2022 - Crosscut

Pedestrians

Leading Pedestrian Intervals an Effective, Low-Cost, Pedestrian Safety Solution

Bellevue, Washington is acting on the data and giving pedestrians head starts at busy intersections around in the city’s downtown.

April 28, 2022 - The Urbanist

Pioneer Square, Seattle

How To Preserve Both Affordable Housing and Urban Trees

Housing and environmental activists are calling on the city to commit to a ‘Trees and’ approach, rejecting the perceived conflict between housing affordability and a healthy urban tree canopy.

April 26, 2022 - The Stranger

A row of Electric Scooter for sharing from Lime in Seattle with the Amazon Spheres in the background.

One Year of E-Scooters in Seattle

The city’s shared e-scooter program has proved popular, seeing more than eight times as many rides as its bike share system.

April 25, 2022 - The Seattle Times

King County Metro Transit

A ‘Playbook’ for Better Bus Service, From King County Metro

King County Metro operates one of the nation’s busiest transit systems—without running any trains. The agency recently released a playbook as a guide to transit service.

April 14, 2022 - Transportation for America

Floating offshore wind turbines

Proposed Offshore Wind Project Could Be the West Coast’s Largest

If approved, the plan to build a 2,000-megawatt facility off the coast of Washington State would be a milestone for floating offshore wind production in the United States.

April 12, 2022 - Energy Wire

Mount Rainier

Tacoma Density Plan Moves to Phase Two

The Home in Tacoma plan would amend the city's zoning code to include more 'missing middle' housing types and encourage infill development.

April 7, 2022 - The Urbanist

Gas Pumps

Waging War on High Gas Prices

America is not at war, but that didn't stop President Joe Biden from calling the largest release of oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve that he authorized on March 31 to lower oil prices, a 'wartime bridge.'

April 6, 2022 - Washington Examiner

Downtown Seattle

Seattle Monorail Celebrates 60 Years

"There's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona fide, electrified, six-car monorail."

March 29, 2022 - The Seattle Times

San Francisco Houses

10 Real Estate Markets That Could Soon Resemble San Francisco

The housing prices that define the most expensive metropolitan areas in the country—think San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles—have gone national.

March 28, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

Seattle Bus

Transit Use Down, Remote Work Up in Seattle

Fewer workers in downtown Seattle are taking public transit to work thanks in large part to an ongoing move to remote work.

March 24, 2022 - Seattle Times

Washington State Ferry

'Move Ahead Washington' Launches a New Era of Transportation Planning in Washington State

Democrats in the Washington State Legislature won approval for a massive 16-year transportation package dubbed Move Ahead Washington.

March 15, 2022 - The Urbanist

Interstate 5 in Shoreline, WA

Shoreline Plans for Road Expansion

Added traffic lanes, new roundabouts, and limited bike facilities are coming to N 145th Street.

March 14, 2022 - The Seattle Medium

Exurban Construction

Opinion: Spokane Needs 'Missing Middle Housing'

With demand for housing in Eastern Washington rising steeply, the region could benefit from zoning reform that encourages small and mid-sized multifamily developments.

March 14, 2022 - The Pacific Northwest Inlander

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.