Washington
As Coronavirus Spreads, Air Pollution Plummets
More people are driving less and staying at home. The result is significant improvements in air quality in cities across the country.
King County Postpones August Target for Transit Sales Tax Initiative
King County, home to Seattle, will wait to ask voters to approve a 0.2% sales tax for funding transit until a time both when transit use is higher, and people aren’t facing waves of sudden unemployment.
$10 Billion Approved for Highway Funding in Washington State
Despite the drastic funding limitation imposed by Washington's voter-approved Initiative 976, the state found a way to fund $10.4 billion in (mostly highway) transportation projects.
Density in the Pandemic Era
High population density is viewed as an environmental benefit in terms of decreasing emissions, particularly from transportation, but from the public health perspective of containing the spread of COVID-19, it might be a significant negative.
Bikes Gain Popularity as People Ditch Subways and Buses
Bike counts and bike share rides are increasing in two of the country's largest cities as commuters look for transportation modes that allow for physical distancing.
Mountain Coal States vs. West Coast Cities
A legal battle is being waged between the coal-exporting states of Utah, Wyoming, and Montana and coastal cities in California, Oregon, and Washington that pits the power of local land-use authority against the protection of interstate commerce.
Dispute Over Siting of Coronavirus Quarantine Facility in Washington State
The Seattle area is ground zero for the coronavirus in the U.S., where 10 of the 11 deaths as of March 5 have occurred. King County's decision to purchase a motel in Kent for use as a quarantine facility is being met with protests by city officials.
NIMBY Politics Sway the Fight to Contain Coronavirus
A week after the Orange County city of Costa Mesa filed a restraining order against the federal government and the state of California over the use of a state-owned facility as an isolation site for coronavirus patients, the feds dropped the plan.
Utah Officials Want to Replace the State Gas Tax
The state auditor and the transportation chief argue that the gas tax is an unsustainable funding source caused by a projected increase in electric vehicle adoption and an increase in fuel efficiency of gas-powered vehicles.
Indigenous Peoples Lead Fight Against Climate Change
Tribal communities are preparing for climate impacts by drawing on their deep understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural environment.
The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Era Concludes in Seattle
Before YIMBY was a household word and before Minneapolis ended single-family zoning, Seattle's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) broke the planning status quo.
Transit-Friendly Makeover for Downtown Seattle Street
Transit commutes have borne the brunt of ongoing deconstruction work around Alaskan Viaduct in Downtown Seattle. Allowing two-way bus-only lanes on Columbia Street is supposed to improve the situation.
Mobility on Demand Partnerships Depend on Data
Private companies and public transit agencies will share a lot of data to ensure that new mobility on demand (MOD) services are effective and sustainable. Lessons on the kinds of data necessary to make MOD work are emerging in L.A. and Seattle.
Sound Transit's Stride BRT to Bring Additional Time Savings
An expansion of Interstate 405 in the Seattle region will include bus rapid transit stations that will allow vehicles to travel even faster along the new transit corridor.
Evaluating the Washington Growth Management Act
The state law that set urban growth boundaries around the state is in its fourth decade as suburban sprawl expands urban growth boundaries around Washington.
Tax on High Earners Proposed to Fund Homeless Services in Seattle's King County
The Washington State Legislature is proposing a type of tax that the city of Seattle tried, and failed, to implement a few years go.
Charting a Better Transportation Future for Washington State
The state gas tax cannot provide the funding that Washington needs for its transportation system, according to a recent opinion piece published by the Seattle Times. But state legislators can look to bold, progressive revenue options for the future.
Legislation to Lift Local Prohibition of Middle Housing Proposed in Washington State
Washington State is the latest example of a state that wants to preempt local planning law to make it easier to add housing units to single-family residential properties all over the states.
Seattle Planning Commission Calls for New Residential Density
A recently published white paper written by the Seattle Planning Commission calls on the city to follow in the footsteps of the city of Minneapolis and the state of Oregon.
Washington Attempts to Adopt a Cleaner Cars and Clean Fuels Programs
A Pew Stateline article tackles the challenges of reducing carbon emissions from transportation compared to electricity generation and looks at recent initiatives announced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee aimed at decarbonizing transportation.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
