Washington

Seattle City Council

Seattle City Council Parts With Mayor on Affordable Housing Funds

Political drama connected to the funding of affordable will require changes to the mayor's proposed city budget.

November 18, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Traffic Lights

Crunching the Safety Data Reveals the Need to Improve Traffic Lights

After completing an eight-year study of traffic collisions, the Seattle Department of Transportation realized that one way to immediately improve traffic safety would be to improve signalization an key intersections.

November 15, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle Speed Limits

Lower Speed Limits Are the Law in Seattle

The city of Seattle moved quickly in enacting a speed limit change on streets around downtown. File this under real change to achieve the goals of Vision Zero.

November 11, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle

Against Seattle's Waterfront Highway

Seattle is set to build a nine-lane tunnel on its waterfront, the Urbanist's Ryan Packer is disappointed with its design and the project's stated goals.

November 10, 2016 - The Urbanist

Methane

How Environment and Energy Ballot Measures Fared in Tuesday's Election

More than the president was decided. Results are in on a Washington carbon tax, a California plastic bag ban, a Sunshine State restriction on solar panels, and on a ban on oil drilling in a California county that actually has oil drilling.

November 10, 2016 - Planetizen

Seattle KeyARena

Seattle NBA Arena Proposal Back From the Dead—But This Time it's Privately Funded

The mastermind behind a failed plan to build a new NBA arena in the Seattle neighborhood of Sodo has tweaked the plan and come back to the negotiating table. A big question still waiting for an answer: Will the NBA will expand to return to the city?

November 9, 2016 - Crosscut

University of Washington

A New Master Plan for the University of Washington

The University of Washington's growth pattern mirrors that of its home city of Seattle. Now the university must make room for 20 percent more of everything—students, faculty, and staff.

October 30, 2016 - The Urbanist

A Transportation Benefit District That Also Benefits the Police Department

The city of Woodland, Washington, offers a case study in government funding. Voters there will consider a sales tax as part of its transportation benefit district, but the benefit could extend to the police department as well.

October 25, 2016 - The Columbian

The Most Important Environmental Measure on the Ballot Next Month

If climate change is among the world's most pressing environmental issues, then Initiative 732 in Washington state should be watched by all concerned with the future of the planet. PBS NewsHour explores why the initiative is so controversial.

October 22, 2016 - PBS NewsHour

Seattle

'Seattle 2035' Plan Finalized and Adopted

"Seattle’s multi-year process to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan has come to its conclusion finding unanimous consent and approval from the City Council," reports Stephen Fesler.

October 18, 2016 - The Urbanist

Link and Bus Seattle

An Argument for Light Rail Over Bus Rapid Transit

Opponents of the ST3 transit funding measure in Seattle have argued that bus rapid transit is a cheaper alternative to light rail. A local write counter argues that point by making the economic case for light rail.

October 16, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle SUper Bowl Parade 12th Man Flag

Seattle Sees Persistent Demand for Apartments

Data from a 2015 study of Seattle housing shows demand for apartment is robust and likely to stay that way.

October 14, 2016 - Smart Growth Seattle

Traffic Garden

Seattle Builds Bicycle Traffic Garden

In an effort to normalize biking and teach kids how to bike safely in the city, Seattle's Cascade Bicycle Club has built a small bike park that simulates road conditions.

October 7, 2016 - Bike Portland

Seatle Skyline

How 'Zoned Capacity' Skews the Debate About Housing

Zoned capacity is often as a statistic to support anti-development arguments. One write endeavors to thoroughly debunk the idea that Seattle has enough zoned capacity to meet its growing demand for housing.

October 4, 2016 - Sightline Institute

Seattle

Seattle Could Upzone its Way to Affordability

Seattle is considering a proposal to upzone some of the densest parts of the city as part of its Mandatory Housing Affordability program.

October 3, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Oakland

Planetizen Week in Review: September 24, 2016

More than one city made big planning news this week. You only need two minutes and thirty seconds to find out more.

September 24, 2016 - Planetizen

Culvert

Court Ruling Mandates Culvert Improvements in Washington

In the state of Washington, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delivered what some are calling the "most important ruling on treaty fishing rights since 1974."

September 20, 2016 - Crosscut

Why Don't Environmentalists Support Washington's Carbon Tax Measure?

A largely revenue-neutral carbon tax proposal, similar to the carbon tax in British Columbia which began in 2008, qualified for the November ballot in Washington. Environmentalists and Democrats, not Big Oil, may cause it's defeat.

September 19, 2016 - Crosscut

Washington Adopts 'First-of-its-Kind' Carbon Reduction Rule

The state's unique Clean Air Rule is called 'cap-and-reduce.' Businesses that fall under the cap are required to reduce emissions, just like California's cap-and-trade program. However, they can not be forced to purchase carbon credits.

September 18, 2016 - Crosscut

Spotlighting the Women Shaping Seattle

The Urbanist is publishing a series of articles focusing on the leadership of women is shaping the past, present, and future of Seattle.

September 17, 2016 - 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.

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.