Washington

Seattle

Seattle Planning Director Pursues Equity Amid a Pro-Growth Agenda

An interview with Seattle Planning Director Sam Assefa for the latest installment of the "Planners Across America" series.

June 4, 2018 - Josh Stephens

Seattle, Elevated Highway

Setting the Toll for New Seattle Tunnel

The Washington State Transportation Commission has begun the planning process to determine the toll schedule for the tunnel that replaces part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct that opens this fall. They must raise six percent of the $3.3 billion cost.

May 31, 2018 - GeekWire

Home Sold Sign

Redfin CEO Laments Frustrated Homebuyers, Low Inventory

The U.S. has become a "landlord nation," says Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. His analysis: fiercely-defended restrictive local zoning laws have cut off supply, dividing those who own from those who rent.

May 30, 2018 - GeekWire

Washington

Seattle's Popular Capitol Hill Neighborhood Getting New Design Guidelines

The new guidelines will allow for new design decisions in a neighborhood undergoing rapid change.

May 30, 2018 - Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

Homeless Encampment

Analysis: Homeless Villages Don't Spur Crime

Homeless villages aren't hotbeds of crime, according to recent analysis. Rather, they can be part of a "crime prevention ecosystem."

May 29, 2018 - The Guardian

Seattle

Seattle Revamping its Tree Ordinance

A recent study found that Seattle's tree coverage shrank from 2010-2015, but the city has a goal to cover 30 percent of the city with trees by 2037.

May 25, 2018 - The Urbanist

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Environmental Impact Study Builds the Case for Accessory Dwelling Units in Seattle

Proponents of a new Accessory Dwelling Unit rule in Seattle say the tactics of opponents backfired with this Environmental Impact Study.

May 24, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Seattle Transit

Tacoma Link Extension Wins $75 Million in Federal Funding

A federal grant will allow Sound Transit to double the length of Tacoma's light rail system.

May 24, 2018 - Federal Transit Administration

Washington, Oregon Border

Priced Lane or Priced Roadway?

The Pacific Northwest's Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area is studying options to add congestion pricing to one or two interstates.

May 17, 2018 - The Oregonian

Seattle Homeless

The Cost of Solving Homelessness in Seattle: $400 Million

It’s "dramatically higher" than any number under discussion, and not even close to what the city will raise with its new tax on large businesses.

May 17, 2018 - Crosscut

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Reaches Compromise on Controversial Tax for Affordable Housing

The Seattle City Council, prompted by pressure from Mayor Jenny Durkan, approved a smaller version of the "Head Tax" that provoked the ire of Amazon.

May 15, 2018 - The Urbanist

Sound Transit Rendering

Planning Work Beginning on Sound Transit's Tacoma Dome Link Extension

Sound Transit is hard at work with a busy planning schedule for several light rail projects in the Tacoma area. A post on The Urbanist focuses on the scoping project for the Tacoma Dome Link extension.

May 9, 2018 - The Urbanist

Seattle Victorian

Zoned Out: Seattle Prioritizes Single-Family Residential

In Seattle, most (88 percent) of the city's new housing is being developed in a few small, already dense areas around the city. Most of the city is reserved for single-family housing.

May 7, 2018 - The Seattle Times

Seattle, Washington

Amazon, Seattle Go to War Over Proposed Tax

Amazon, a company with cities throwing money at its feet all over the country, has decided to halt construction on an expansion in its hometown over a proposed "head tax."

May 5, 2018 - The New York Times

Seattle Transit

Sound Transit Plan Includes 43 Miles of Bus Rapid Transit for Greater Seattle

Bus Rapid Transit along I-405 and SR-522 will b completed by 2024 if plan is approved and built on schedule.

May 3, 2018 - Bothell Kenmore Reporter

Seattle Train

New Surplus Land Policy to Supplement Sound Transit's Big Investments

Inclusive transit oriented development is a top priority with Sound Transit's new surplus land policy.

May 2, 2018 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

Vancouver Protected Bike Lane

Vancouver Is 'True North' for Seattle Bike Lane Advocates

In Seattle, securing every new bike lane seems like a "tooth and nail" fight. But across a border to the north, vigorous initial opposition melted away as a connected system took shape.

May 1, 2018 - The Seattle Times

Trailer Park

How Mobile Homes Fill a 'Critical Gap' in Affordable Housing

Cities across America have a housing crisis on their hands—should they be talking more about trailer parks?

April 27, 2018 - CityLab

Biker Bike Bikes

Opinion: A Surprising New Foe in the War Against Pedestrians

Allowing bikes on sidewalks pits cyclists against pedestrians, an advocate argues.

April 23, 2018 - Crosscut

Getting the Politics of Cordon Tolling Right

With Mayor Jenny Durkan's announcement that Seattle will pursue cordon area congestion pricing coming five days after New York dropped its plan, a Washington State pro-business publication looks at the difficulties in getting the politics right.

April 20, 2018 - Lens

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.