Washington

Small gray backyard cottage with glass door and bike sitting in front of it

ADU Demand Grows Across the West Coast

In communities from California to Washington, permit applications for accessory dwelling units outpace the ability of permitting and construction to keep pace.

July 14, 2023 - Cottage ADU

Tents put up by unhoused people outside of Seattle's baseball stadium

Seattle Sweep of Unhoused Encampments Draws Criticism

The city denies that the timing of clearing a camp populated by unhoused residents was related to the upcoming MLB All-Star Game.

July 12, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Two bridges over Puget sound, Tacoma washington

Washington Governor Delays Progress on Mileage Fee, Again

For the second time in two years, Gov. Jay Inslee has dealt a legislative setback to transportation planning efforts to prepare for the 2035 ban on the sale of gas-tax paying light duty motor vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.

July 10, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Bowery

Opinion: Lower Rents Will Give Downtown Spaces Back to the ‘Weirdos’

Introducing the “CBGB theory of city planning.”

July 5, 2023 - Publicola

Close-up of gloved hand holding blue Orca transit card with blue and yellow bus in background

King County Metro to Cut Bus Service

With hundreds of buses out of service and a mechanic shortage delaying repairs and maintenance, Seattle area bus riders will see significantly reduced service this summer.

July 4, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Washington

Regional Authority to Address Homelessness Proposed in Spokane

The city wants to coordinate resources and groups to bring resources to unhoused residents after the closure of Camp Hope, formerly the largest encampment in the state.

July 3, 2023 - Crosscut

Black and white photo of Pike Place Market entrance in Seattle with "PUBLIC MARKET" and "Meet the producer" signs

Revisiting ‘Third Places’ as a Pandemic Recovery Tool

In Chuck Wolfe's latest piece on downtown recovery for GeekWire, he proposes revisiting a multifaceted ‘third place’ agenda as a focus for downtown recovery.

June 22, 2023 - GeekWire

Sound Transit train

Sound Transit Reveals Early 2024 Service Plans

Seattle’s transit agency is looking to maximize its limited resources as it continues to grapple with staffing shortages and supply chain issues across the region.

May 31, 2023 - The Urbanist

Bellevue, Washington skyline against mountains

Bellevue Issues Curb Management Plan

The plan reorients the city’s priorities from vehicle throughput and parking to transit, bike infrastructure, and other public amenities.

May 29, 2023 - The Urbanist

Nighttime view of Tacoma, Washington skyline

Tacoma Coalition Calls for ‘Tenants’ Bill of Rights’

The group wants to put more power in the hands of tenants, but the city has its own, competing proposal for addressing the housing crisis.

May 26, 2023 - The Urbanist

View from under track of Seattle monorail passing under Frank Gehry-designed Museum of Pop Culture with Space Needle in background

‘The Power of the Kraken:’ Seattle Monorail Ridership Spikes for Hockey Games

Seattle’s new professional hockey team is drawing legions of enthusiastic fans. Around a quarter of them are taking public transit, such as the city’s often-maligned monorail, to games.

May 25, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Vancouver Chuck Wolfe

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown

In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

May 24, 2023 - GeekWire

Rendering of pedestrian and bike bridge over multilane road

Seattle Area to Get Three New Pedestrian Bridges

Three major connection projects are slated to open in the next year, bringing a comprehensive regional bikeway network one step closer to reality.

May 16, 2023 - The Urbanist

Google Street View looking up at The Rise on Madison high-rise apartment building under construction in Seattle, Washington.

Two New Affordable Housing Communities Open in Seattle

The opening of Blake House marks the city’s first high-rise affordable housing project in half a century.

May 14, 2023 - Puget Sound Business Journal

View of oceanfront homes in Malibu, California against golden afternoon sky

Report: West Coast Must Come to Terms With Managed Retreat

As sea levels rise, experts say coastal communities have to overcome their resistance to managed retreat and plan for relocation.

May 10, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Downtown Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Launches 'Pay-per-Mile' Pilot

Mileage fee programs go by different names. In the West, it's the road usage charge or RUC. Oklahoma adopted a simpler term. What most have in common, though, is the for-profit company helping to manage them.

May 8, 2023 - Cities Today

An almost empty intersection in downtown Seattle Washington. An arial shot off of the side of a building that shows the crisscrossing of roads, crosswalks, and bike lanes.

Seattle Transitions to No Right Turns on Red

Every new traffic light in the city will be required to install ‘No Turn on Red’ signs, a tactic shown to reduce collisions.

May 5, 2023 - The Urbanist

Two-lane asphalt road in Washington state with pine trees along sides and Mt. Rainier in background

Washington Road Safety Bills Fail to Advance

Several bills aimed at reducing traffic deaths fell by the wayside in the state legislature, despite the growing rate of road fatalities.

May 4, 2023 - The Urbanist

Seattle skyline panorama seen from Kerry Park at sunset in golden evening light with Mount Rainier in the background, Washington State, United States of America

Washington Cities Balance Housing Development and Tree Canopy

Cities like Seattle and Bellingham are working to increase housing density while also preserving urban trees and green spaces.

May 3, 2023 - The Urbanist

Seattle, Washington

The City Beyond Amazon's ‘Great Return’

In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe explains how, as the Amazon (and other) “Great Returns” to the office unfold, it's essential to dig deeper.

May 2, 2023 - GeekWire

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