Washington

Donald Trump

Trump Signs Two Executive Orders Limiting States' Authority Over Energy Pipelines

The Trump administration's "energy dominance" agenda depends, in part, on growing the energy distribution network, namely pipelines, rail facilities, and ports. However, states can use the Clean Water Act to block pipelines and coal terminals.

April 15, 2019 - InsideClimate News

Seattle, Washington

Budget Overruns Put the Brakes on Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan

After initial projects funded by the 2015 Move Seattle levy came in well over budget, the city of Seattle will now have extra pressure to choose impactful projects while reducing the scope of its Bicycle Master Plan.

April 12, 2019 - The Urbanist

State Capital of Utah

Finding Ways for States and Cities to Work Together to Solve the Housing Crisis

The National League of Cities has a new report surveying local tools for addressing the housing affordability crisis. State partnerships are included.

April 9, 2019 - Governing

Traffic

Will Manhattan's "Central Business District Tolling" Clear the Way for More Congestion Pricing?

Cordon pricing applied to Manhattan's Central Business District, approved by the state legislature on March 31 and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 1, has the ability to be a game changer for other cities considering similar programs.

April 8, 2019 - The New York Times

Columbia River Bridge

Reviving the Failed Columbia River Crossing to Connect Oregon, Washington

A project is back from the dead in the Pacific Northwest, at least in the eyes of the governors of Oregon and Washington.

April 7, 2019 - The Oregonian

Highway 520

Planning for 1.8 Million New Residents Around Puget Sound

The state of Washington's 1990 Growth Management Act requires regions to create long-range growth plans. The Puget Sound Region Council is currently working on its latest iteration of the plan.

March 29, 2019 - Crosscut

Seattle Cancels Bike Lane Plans

Bike advocates are starting to worry about Mayor Jenny Durkan's lack of a track record in building new bike infrastructure.

March 28, 2019 - The Urbanist

Planning Commission in World's Fair office, 1958

Seattle Exhibit Grapples With Redlining Past and Present

A creative exhibit highlights how redlining and racist exclusion persist today.

March 26, 2019 - Curbed Seattle

High Rise Construction

Transportation Impact Fee Finally on the Table in Seattle

The city of Seattle is the largest jurisdiction in the state of Washington that passes on its legal opportunity to implement a transportation impact fee on new development.

March 24, 2019 - The Urbanist

Culvert

Washington State Needs Funding to Address Culvert Issue

Orcas and tribes depend on salmon, but culverts are blocking the fish from reaching breeding grounds. The state is struggling to come up with funding to remove and repair the infrastructure.

March 23, 2019 - Crosscut

Bus Only

New BRT Launching in Snohomish County, Washington

It's only the county's second bus rapid transit route, but planners hope the Swift Green Line will eventually connect with a more robust network of BRT and rail service.

March 21, 2019 - The Urbanist

Seattle

Seattle Gives Final Approval to 27 Upzones

An historic moment for planning in Seattle: Density bonuses for affordable housing are now allowed all over the city as Seattle implements a big piece of its long-percolating Mandatory Housing Affordability plan.

March 19, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Public Transit

Express Bus Service Coming to the Suburbs South of Seattle

New intercity bus transit service is in the works in King County, Washington.

March 18, 2019 - The Urbanist

Vermont BRT

Tacoma Weighs Bus Rapid Transit

Pierce Transit has proposed a new Bus Rapid Transit line to speed travel, but Tacoma residents have bristled at the prospect of losing front lawns and parking spaces.

March 15, 2019 - KOMO News

Seattle Downtown

Pedestrian Head Starts Key to Vision Zero Goals in Seattle

Seattle is working toward its Vision Zero goals, after a year in which most people killed by drivers in the city were pedestrians.

March 13, 2019 - The Seattle Times

Mountlake Terrace, Washington

When Light Rail Comes to Suburban Washington, So Do Bigger Plans

Mountlake Terrace, located about halfway between Seattle and Everett, will soon have new building heights to go along with a new light rail station.

March 7, 2019 - The Urbanist

Tacoma Washington

Accessory Dwelling Units Find Public Support in Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma, Washington, a city of over 200,000 residents in the Pacific Northwest, is making room for more.

March 6, 2019 - The Urbanist

Seattle Waterfront Condos

Anti-Displacement Policies Proposed by Seattle Politicians

The mayor and a councilmember both made potentially sweeping proposals to address displacement as the city moves forward with plans to upzone neighborhoods, in keeping with the Mandatory Housing Affordability policy.

March 1, 2019 - The Urbanist

Seattle Bus

Expansion Planned for Low-Income Bus Pass Program in Seattle

The ORCA Opportunity program will provide free bus passes to some of the city’s low-income residents.

February 26, 2019 - Curbed Seattle

Timber Production

Seattle Could Be at the Forefront of the Mass Timber Industry

Cross-laminated timber offers a multitude of environmental and economic benefits. With the state’s resources and Seattle’s construction needs, the city is the ideal location for mass timber production to take off.

February 25, 2019 - The Urbanist

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.

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.