Washington

Road Diet in the Works

24 Road Diet Case Studies from the U.S. Department of Transportation

Following a "Mayors Challenge" for bike safety by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation recently released a "Road Diets" report, providing a geographical diverse collection of case studies.

June 12, 2015 - Publicola

Seattle Searching for Answers on Affordable Housing

The city of Seattle has a stated goal of creating 30,000 new market rate housing units and 20,000 new or newly rent-restricted units in the city in the next 10 years. How to do so is the question currently before local officials.

June 10, 2015 - The Seattle Times

Sign Code Update: Finding the Sweet Spot

A case study in integrating form-based and street graphic approaches into the sign code, provided by the city of Lacey, Washington.

June 5, 2015 - MRSC Insight

Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan Wrestles With Urban Growth

As increasing density and increasing housing costs raise temperatures all over Seattle, residents and planners are engaging in a comprehensive plan that will determine how the city grows over the next 20 years.

June 5, 2015 - Crosscut

Environmental Criticism for the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan

The Seattle 2035 will manage growth for one of the fastest growing cities in the country. But shouldn't it also mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions of this famously eco-conscious city?

May 28, 2015 - Publicola

Large Park Expansion Coming to Seattle's Chinatown

A construction project seeking construction bids will double the size of Hing Hay Park, located in Seattle's Chinatown-International District.

May 27, 2015 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Another Scary Example of Driving with Impunity

Seattle Bike Blogger Tom Fucoloro directed his ire at the Bellevue, Washington police treatment of a particularly horrendous pedal misapplication crash by a new driver that came within inches of hitting a nine-month old baby asleep in a crib.

May 24, 2015 - Seattle Bike Blog

Grant Funding Rewards Innovation in Community Engagement

The Citi Foundation and Living Cities announced $3 million in grant funding to help cities adopt innovative practices in community engagement. Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Seattle will have 18 months to empower citizens.

May 22, 2015 - Next City

Washington Declares Statewide Drought Emergency

With snowpack down to 16 percent of normal levels, Washington officials are bracing for drought.

May 20, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Chicago Bus

Seattle Lowers Transit Fares for Low-Income Residents

Joining Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, and Kansas City, Seattle now offers reduced bus fares to low-income residents. Some worry the program entrenches class differences and doesn't truly aid social mobility.

May 14, 2015 - Governing

Gentrification Concerns Ride Light Rail in Seattle

As Seattle considers a $900 million levy proposed by Mayor Ed Murray, locals are already wondering if new transit investments are precursor of unwanted gentrification.

May 13, 2015 - Seattle Weekly

Seattle Mixed Use Development

Seattle Densification Strategy: Build Apartments Without Parking

Not just any apartments, only those served by frequent transit. Developers will still have a "mobility" requirement: In lieu of a parking space, they'll need to provide tenants with transit passes and memberships in car and bikeshare services.

May 11, 2015 - KIRA 7

Seattle Port, City Council Clash Over Drill Rigs

A decision by the Port of Seattle to host Shell Oil's Arctic drill rigs has made for tense relations between the port and the Seattle City Council.

May 8, 2015 - KUOW

Seattle Gasworks Park

Seattle Zealously Protects Its Parkland

Based on a history of park-friendly ordinances, Seattle parks and urban forests are largely off-limits to developers. Landowners who flout these regulations must provide the city with an adjacent and equivalent parcel.

May 7, 2015 - KUOW

Seattle Waterfront Condos

Focus on Affordability at APA National Conference

For all the discussion about affordable housing at the APA National Conference in Seattle last week, clear solutions have yet to emerge. Polycentric regional planning is one long-term goal.

April 28, 2015 - CityLab

Planning for New Protected Bike Lanes in Northeast Seattle

The Seattle Department of Transportation is pitching new bike routes as safe infrastructure for all ages.

April 18, 2015 - The Urbanist

Homelessness

Seattle's Homeless Population Is Booming Too

While rates of homelessness drop elsewhere, tents and cardboard are becoming a very regular sight in Seattle. New wealth and newly unaffordable housing may be twin culprits.

April 15, 2015 - NPR

Seattle Residents Look to Community Land Trusts to Insulate from Displacement

Community land trusts are gaining popularity as a tool for building and protecting affordable housing. Seattle residents are the latest to consider the option in the face of rapid gentrification and displacement.

April 14, 2015 - Seattle Transit Blog

Businesses Want Vermont to Adopt Nation's First Carbon Tax

Vermont's legislature will take up the carbon tax proposal this week. The tax is construed as largely revenue neutral, i.e., offset by tax decreases and credits, and apply to heating and transportation fuels. Gov. Peter Shumlin has doubts.

April 13, 2015 - WCAX-TV

Seattle Streetcar

New Seattle Streetcars Begin Tests

The First Hill line's streetcars are set to begin service in summer of 2015, and the city is already assembling funds for an extension.

April 13, 2015 - Capitol Hill Times

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.