Washington

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

Connecting the Dots Between Governance and Placemaking

Seattle's beloved Pike Place offers a case study in how careful governance builds the foundation for flourishing places.

March 30, 2016 - Brookings

Could Tent Cities Work in California?

Seeking new approaches to a growing homelessness problem, Sacramento officials recently toured the "tent cities" of Seattle.

March 30, 2016 - The Planning Report

Seattle Light Rail Construction

New Details on Seattle's $50 Billion Light Rail Plan

The campaign for the Sound Transit 3 ballot initiative is underway in Seattle, after local officials released a draft plan that charts a $50 billion build out of light rail in the region.

March 27, 2016 - The Seattle Times

Bicycle traffic light in Berlin

Op-Ed: Prohibit Right Turns on Red Lights

A writer suggests an end for one of the many conveniences available to drivers: the right turn on a red light.

March 23, 2016 - Next City

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.