Washington

Spokane, Washington

Spokane Faces Big Decision on Future of Transit

Spokane, Washington may be at a crossroads as voters consider expanding the city's urban transportation system. Some say it's key to attracting young workers and building a walkable urban environment. Others see it as a waste of money.

May 16, 2016 - The Spokesman-Review

U-Link opening

Controversy Erupts Over Seattle's Light Rail Party Planning Expenses

Anti-transit advocates in Seattle got ammunition this week from an article about the party thrown by Sound Transit to celebrate the recent opening of the light rail extension from downtown to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington.

May 14, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Red Bike Light

Advocates Looking for Answers as Seattle Slashes its Bike Plan

Bikers hoping for a new bike lane on 9th Ave N in Seattle were disappointed earlier this month with an announcement by the Seattle Department of Transportation.

May 12, 2016 - Seattle Bike Blog

Seattle Bus Rain

Art at Seattle Bus Stops Only Appears When It's Raining

Seattle celebrates a transit project with public art that plays to the city’s strength: rain.

May 11, 2016 - CityLab

Pierce Transit

Pierce Transit Lets You 'Build Your Own Transit System'

For feedback on a system overhaul, Pierce Transit in Washington is asking residents to design their own transit system through an interactive survey.

May 9, 2016 - The Urbanist

Seattle KeyARena

Seattle Rejects NBA-Seeking Development Proposal

A development proposal for a new NBA arena, in the works since 2012, was dead on arrival to the Seattle City Council. The decision surprised even project opponents.

May 5, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Bike Cops

Seattle Police Department Demonstrates the Versatile Uses of the Bicycle

A May Day march on Sunday that turned violent provided the opportunity for the Seattle Police Department to deploy its bike squad for crowd control, and in more ways than you might think.

May 3, 2016 - CBS This Morning

Seattle Brick Loft

Seattle's Seismic Risk Concentrated in Capitol Hill

Seattle's updated list of masonry structures at risk from earthquake includes many structures in the Capitol Hill district. Property owners are not currently mandated to retrofit the buildings they own.

May 1, 2016 - Capitol Hill Seattle Blog

Seattle Apartments

Seattle's Inclusionary Zoning Proposal Falling Short of Expectations

A critical component of the landmark and controversial Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) platform, announced first in July 2015.

April 30, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Seattle Introduces New Urban Park Prototype

Seattle's 12th Avenue park offers a prototype for future urban parks. It is compact, doesn't require buying a lot of costly land, and can accommodate neighborhood scale events and programs

April 28, 2016 - Crosscut

Seattle Housing Prices Starting to Look Like San Francisco

Seattle's housing prices have ballooned on a level comparable to San Francisco, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

April 26, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Seattle KeyARena

Seattle's Preemptive Strike for an NBA Arena Up for Debate

With the prospects of an NBA team bolting for Seattle not looking great anytime in the near future, the Seattle City Council is debating a proposal that has been in the works since 2012.

April 25, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Sound Transit Link Light Rail

Sound Transit Breaks Ground Today on the $3.7 Billion Light Rail Extension

Sound Transit begins construction on the East Link light rail extension. Next stop: 2023, when the line is expected to serve 50,000 riders a day.

April 22, 2016 - Seattle Daily Journal Of Commerce

Port of Tacoma

Plans for World's Largest Methanol Plant Die in Tacoma

The massive and controversial Tideflats methanol plant proposal will no longer trouble environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest.

April 21, 2016 - The News Tribune

Seattle Mulls Selling Surplus Open Space

A 13-acre site considered excess by the city of Seattle could be sold to the highest bidder or become a park

April 18, 2016 - Crosscut

Pierce Transit in Washington on the Road to Recovery

The economic recovery is strongly evidenced by a proposal to restore thousands of hours of transit service in Pierce County, Washington.

April 18, 2016 - The Urbanist

New Frequent Buses Will Arrive More Frequently in Seattle

A few weeks after a major restructure of bus service, King County Metro Transit in Seattle is adding additional bus trips to a few particularly crowded lines.

April 13, 2016 - Mass Transit

BMW Ready to Launch 'Premium' Car-Sharing Service in Seattle

A new car-sharing service called ReachNow will soon hit the streets of Seattle, offering customers a chance to rent a variety of cars manufactured by BMW by the hour.

April 12, 2016 - KUOW

Seattle's New Light Rail Line Proving Good for Business

Since a March opening greeted with fanfare for its on-time and under budget delivery, local business are crediting the new light rail line connecting Downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill with big sales bumps.

April 7, 2016 - KUOW

Effort Underway to Change 36 Racist Place Names in Washington State

It's surprising to see places named with racially offensive words in 2016—no matter what your take on political correctness.

April 2, 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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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

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