Washington

Green Line, Los Angeles

Review of November 2016 Transportation Ballot Measures

About 50 transportation measures appeared on local ballots on November 8, 2016. To date, Planetizen reviewed outcomes in nine regions in six states. Here we compare the measures in terms of revenue, taxes, projects, and reasons for failure.

January 12, 2017 - Planetizen

Checking in on Two of Seattle's Bike Infrastructure Plans

The city of Seattle is moving through the planning and design stages on two important bike infrastructure projects located at the south end of Downtown.

January 7, 2017 - The Urbanist

How Seattle Houses the People Who Need it Most

The Seattle Weekly explores the question of how Seattle, a quickly growing and desirable city, is working to ensure housing options for its low-income residents.

January 3, 2017 - Seattle Weekly

Seattle's Incentive Zoning Pays Out Funding for Affordable Housing Projects

Seattle's incentive zoning program is paying dividends and funding projects. Look for 110 affordable units to be built in the Capitol Hill neighborhood by 2019.

January 1, 2017 - The Urbanist

Everett

A New Downtown Master Plan for Everett, Washington

The city of 108,000 is preparing for major growth in the next 20 years.

December 30, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle Mixed Use Development

New Seattle Loan Fund Finances Affordable Housing

As excitement builds around Seattle's voter-approved transit expansion plan, the REDI Fund will preserve space for low and middle-income residents in new transit-oriented developments.

December 26, 2016 - Next City

Seattle

Looking for Concrete Goals in Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan Update

With the plan update process for Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan underway, one writer wonders why the plan is setting firmer goals for increased mode share.

December 24, 2016 - The Urbanist

Sound Transit Link Light Rail

Sound Transit, Feds Agree to Low Interest Rates on $2 Billion in Transportation Funding

If getting low interest rates from the federal government on money borrowed to finance transportation projects sounds like a national infrastructure bank, you're on the right track.

December 23, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Additional Study Necessary for Seattle to Pass Accessory Dwelling Units Legislation

A recent ruling by the City Hearing Examiner is a setback—but not necessarily a permanent one—for the city's efforts to loosen regulations on accessory dwelling units.

December 19, 2016 - Seattle Met

Rural

King County, Washington Won't Budge on Rural Developments

The city of Snoqualimie's requests to expand in to "rural" King County has been denied.

December 19, 2016 - KUOW

Parking

Transit Up, Parking Down in Seattle

Facing an affordability crisis, Seattle is betting on dense, walkable development. The transition away from guaranteed parking promises to be no easier here than elsewhere.

December 16, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Streetcar

Seattle Streetcar Extension Looks Unlikely to Proceed

A proposal to extend the First Hill Streetcar along Broadway in Capitol Hill has lost the support of some of its key stakeholders and now looks very much in doubt.

December 15, 2016 - Capital Hill Seattle Blog

Another Fossil-Fuel-Friendly Climate Skeptic Selected for Trump Cabinet

President-elect Donald Trump is reported to have selected Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, for Secretary of the Department of Interior. Also, "Climate McCarthyism" emerges as a concern for federal employees.

December 12, 2016 - Reuters via Yahoo News

Vancouver Skyline

As Goes Vancouver, So Goes Seattle?

What does Vancouver’s housing market implosion mean for the Seattle area?

December 10, 2016 - Crosscut

Seattle Transit

King County Expands Fare-Free Transit for Riders in Need

The victory for homeless and very low-income transit riders is a reminder of the importance of grassroots organizing.

December 6, 2016 - Seattle Transit Blog

Seattle Sailboats

Debunking Seattle's 'Housing Shortage'

A post examining common responses to the question of why the cost of housing continues to rise requires a frank discussion about the nature of Seattle's "housing shortage."

November 25, 2016 - The Urbanist

Making Better Retail Districts in Seattle

Ryan Packer argues that Seattle could do more to improve its retail districts by updating its building codes to encourage dense, welcoming shopping districts.

November 22, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle

Op-Ed: Environmentalists Must Fight for Density

Members of the Sierra Club and the Young Democrats of University of Washington come together to advocate more dense zoning in one of Seattle's most transit accessible neighborhoods.

November 22, 2016 - The Stranger

Seattle Streetcar

Seattle's HUGE Transit Victory on Election Day

In dollars, Seattle region's Proposition 1 was second only to Measure M, a $120 billion sales tax measure in Los Angeles County, although the comparison is lacking in at least three respects. Prop 1 did not pass in all three Puget Sound counties.

November 21, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Coal Railroad

Coal Train Lawsuit Settlement Leaves Unanswered Questions

A lawsuit in the state of Washington between environmentalists and BNSF Railway over the environmental impacts of coal trains has been settled out of court.

November 20, 2016 - Crosscut

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.