Washington
Health by Design: Findings from ULI
A new ULI report finds that innovation in placemaking is about the inter-relatedness of health and the built environment.
Washington State's First Express Toll Lanes Open
Washington has Express Lanes on I-5 and I-90 and HOT Lanes on SR 167, but the 17 miles of lanes that opened Sunday on I-405 from Bellevue to Lynnwood will be the state's first Express Toll Lanes.
Seattle Makes Grassroots Crosswalk Design Official
Seattle will implement a process by which neighborhoods can take the Tactical Urbanism practice of DIY sidewalks a step further—by officially approving local designs for sidewalks.
19 Progressive Recommendations for Seattle's Housing Crisis
The Urbanist chose 19 of the progressive recommendations from a total of 65 put forward by the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Advisory Committee (HALA) committee.
Lessons from Washington's Record Breaking Wildfire Season
The largest fire in the state history is burning in Washington. This year's particularly bad fires had predictable, perhaps preventable, origins.
What If Seattle Had a Century-Old Subway?
Virgil Bogue's 1911 Plan of Seattle called for a centrally-planned metropolis with efficient transit, parks, and a cap on building height. It was voted down, but remains an interesting study on planning for the long term.
Legal Marijuana Still a Challenge for Road Safety
The state of Washington is finding that more and more fatal car crashes involve drivers under the influence of THC. But legal limbo, lack of research, and spotty detection makes the question of what to do very hard to answer.
Real Time Data Monitoring Salmon Populations in Drought-Stricken Pacific Northwest
Indian Tribes in the Pacific Northwest are using real time data to monitor and support salmon populations on rivers impacted by water and power infrastructure along with the region's ongoing drought.
Tacoma Residents Reject Up-Zoning Proposals
A suite of zoning changes under consideration by the Tacoma Planning Commission provoked its "most well-attended" hearing in decades.
First Bus Rapid Transit Comes to Portland Metro Region
But not to Portland, nor even in Oregon for that matter. The Vine will service downtown Vancouver, Washington and be operated by Vancouver's public transit agency, C-TRAN. It broke ground in downtown Vancouver on Monday.
Mapping Fun: Where Seattle Has No Sidewalks
Not all streets are created equal: Some have sidewalks and some don't.
Sound Transit's East Link Rail Line Needs $20 Million More for Engineering
Sound Transit had to deliver bad news last week about cost overruns in the design and engineering phase of the East Link rail project that will cross Lake Washington along the path of Interstate 90.
Florida County Commissioners to Vote on Increased Gas Tax
Florida counties have their own gas taxes and can raise them without going to a vote by the people. Due to a road budget shortfall, the Santa Rosa County Commission will vote on August 13 whether to raise the gas tax as much as six cents per gallon.
Lesson from Seattle: Zoning Is a Political Debate, Not a Policy Debate
The swift rejection of a proposal to upzone residential neighborhoods in Seattle inspired The Urbanist to evaluate the lessons of the episode. One takeaway: don't demonize single-family homeowners.
Seattle's 'Oh So Human' Hesitations About Change
Seattle's recent Housing and Livability Agenda (HALA) recommendations have created a sensational dialogue about zoning, affordability and neighborhood change. Chuck Wolfe explains how this may create an unprecedented basis for consensus in the city.
First Senate Bill Introduced to Raise Gas Tax
Carper, a Democrat, hopes to take advantage of historically low gas prices to hike the federal fuel taxes four cents a year for four years to end reliance on General Funds to fund transportation spending. Increased credits would offset the tax hike.
Dueling Proposals for Seattle's Waterfront Park
Eventually, Bertha will push through and create an alternative route for what is now Highway 99. Eventually, also, Seattle will decide on a plan to build a park where the viaduct now runs.
Working Toward Open Data for Building and Construction Permits
The potential of a standard, easily accessible data set tracking building and land use permits could completely change the way the public interacts with changes in their community.
Downtown Seattle Works to Curb Driving as it Grows
With the highest levels of construction in over a decade, the city is working to reduce traffic congestion.
Seattle to Rely on Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has released a draft plan to overhaul the city's stormwater infrastructure to reduce the pollution levels in Puget Sound.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
