Washington

A ferry boat returns to Seattle

Washington State to Transition to Battery Electric Ferries

Washington's largest diesel emissions polluter will transition its fleet to diesel-hybrids and then to battery-electric propulsion to comply with Gov. Inslee's emissions-reduction executive order which will also please the orcas in Puget Sound.

December 29, 2019 - Greentech Media

Washington

A Transit and Land Use Planning Shift in Federal Way, Washington

Federal funding for Sound Transit's Federal Way Link extension and a new transit-oriented land use plan are changing the future of Federal Way.

December 23, 2019 - The Urbanist

Underpass Camp

Seattle Regional Homelessness Authority Plan Moves Forward, but Faces Controversy

A proposal for a regional entity to oversee homeless services in King County is running into jurisdictional conflicts.

December 20, 2019 - The Urbanist

Seattle Speed Limits

Seattle Expands Speed Limit Reductions

After an initial wave of speed limit reductions in 2016, the city of Seattle will embark on a major expansion of speed limit reductions over the next 18 months.

December 11, 2019 - The Urbanist

Cadillac Escalade

'Biggest Carbon Loser' Contest Launching in Seattle

KUOW is taking applications for participants in a "biggest carbon loser" competition.

December 11, 2019 - KUOW

Seattle

Seattle Councilmember Calls for Transit-Oriented Density

Seattle Councilmember Abel Pacheco writes on opinion piece for The Urbanist to make the case for transit-oriented density on The Ave in the city's University District.

December 10, 2019 - The Urbanist

Security Cameras

Use of Private Surveillance Grows With the Help of Cheap AI Tech

As the technology gets cheaper, AI surveillance systems are gaining popularity in some parts of the country, like the neighborhood of Magnolia in Seattle.

December 9, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Beacon Hill Intersection

School Proximity and Speeding Tickets: Still Can't Win Safety Improvements

A loss for traffic safety advocates in Seattle.

December 7, 2019 - The Urbanist

Mount Rainier

An Incremental Upzoning Approved in Tacoma

Though it stops well short of a citywide upzoning, the city of Tacoma has still expanded its planned development envelope by upzoning residential neighborhoods around the city.

December 5, 2019 - The Urbanist

The Wharf D.C.

Local Curbed Sites Shut Down in D.C., Seattle, New Orleans, Philadelphia

In a blow to local news, a popular planning, development, and real estate platform winnows its local offerings.

December 4, 2019 - The Wrap

Bus Stop and Bike Lane

2019 Bicycle Friendly States Rankings Released

The Pacific Northwest is leading the way for bicycle safety at the state level, according to the latest report from the League of American Bicyclists.

December 4, 2019 - League of American Bicyclists

Seattle View

Judge Puts Washington's Transportation-Busting Initiative on Hold

Washington state voters expecting to see their vehicle registration fees drop to $30 on Thursday due to the passage of Initiative 976 on Nov. 5 might have to wait much longer after a King County Superior Court judge put the measure on hold.

December 3, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Raising Taxes on Uber and Lyft Rides

A new 57-cent tax will help fund affordable housing and a few transportation programs in Seattle.

December 2, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Wisconsin Capitol

Madison Common Council Narrowly Approves Unpopular $40 Wheel Tax

Despite major opposition by residents, the Madison Common Council approved a $40 motor vehicle registration fee (aka 'wheel tax') on an 11-8 vote on Oct. 29 to help fund the city's new East-West Bus Rapid Transit system.

November 29, 2019 - Wisconsin State Journal

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Seattle Companies Want to Drive Down Prohibitive ADU Costs

Legal barriers to accessory dwelling units may be disappearing in some places, but costs can still be prohibitive. Several companies are stepping forward with more affordable options.

November 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

Compost Field

Human Waste as a Climate Solution

Using treated waste as an agricultural fertilizer is controversial, but the practice has several climate-related benefits.

November 21, 2019 - Yale Climate Connections

Seattle Tiny Homes Village

Tiny Home Village to Close Amid Controversy in Seattle

The situation at the tiny home village in the Seattle neighborhood of Northlake has been deteriorating since April.

November 19, 2019 - Seattle Times

Salish Sea

A Surprising Lack of Geographic Knowledge

Have you ever heard of the Salish Sea? Neither have most of the people who live near it, in cities named Seattle and Vancouver.

November 16, 2019 - Phys.org

Bus Lane

A New Approach to Bus Priority in Olympia, Washington

Buses on State Avenue in Olympia, Washington will get their own lane a chance to jump to the head of traffic.

November 15, 2019 - The Urbanist

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Emerges From Tolled Tunnel Unscathed

Promises of congestion and thousands of cars spilling on to quiet residential streets proved unfounded after the first week with tolls on the Highway 91 tunnel in Seattle.

November 14, 2019 - City Observatory

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.