A new "Target Zero" safety roadmap for reducing serious injuries and fatalities on Washington's roads includes some clear, evidence-based recommendations. But implementation could be challenging given political realities.

Holiday Video: Ghent Is Making Streets Safer For Kids To Bike...

Streetfilms highlights how Ghent (Gent), a city in the Flemish north of Belgium, is making streets safe so that kids can walk...
A central square in downtown Redmond has a row of bike parking and tents set up for a street far. Midrise apartment buildings ring the square and a construction crane adds another.

Redmond Greenlights Center Upzones, Sixplexes Citywide, Higher Affordability Requirements

The recently passed Redmond 2050 plan increases housing capacity and aims to produce nearly 30,000 new homes by 2050, mostly downtown and in Overlake Village. However, homebuilders warn that the City is adding new obstacles that could impede housing development.
Construction cranes build more housing near Seattle's Space Needle.

Op-Ed: Cities Must Embrace Housing Abundance to Resist Rise of Authoritarianism

Counteracting authoritarianism and building a bright and welcoming future requires an abundance agenda centering housing growth. Cities like Seattle must lead the way.
Scott and Rinck pose at bus stops. Mello is on a downtown Tacoma street. Bateman is leaning on a marble column at the state capitol.

Four Successful Urbanist-Backed Candidates Pledge Housing, Transit, and Climate Action 

Shaun Scott, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Ryan Mello, and Jessica Bateman will bring progressive urbanist leadership to their respective offices.

Roger Millar’s Departure Leaves Big Shoes to Fill at WSDOT

Washington State's transportation chief Roger Millar is out after eight years, as Governor-elect Bob Ferguson prepares to take office. Widely recognized as a leader in progressive transportation policy, Millar will be tough to replace.
A small crowd waits for the doors to open on a monorail train at Seattle Center

A First Look at Seattle Center Monorail Station’s Planned Access Upgrades

With $15 million in federal funds in hand, accessibility upgrades are moving forward for the Seattle Center monorail station. Take a look at the preferred concept.

Sunday Video: Autonomous Vehicles Deserve Heavy Skepticism

Urbanist circles differ in how they see autonomous vehicles, particularly as they move toward wider adoption. Some see them being a tool...

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The Space Needle peeks over the top of midrise rooftops

Reminder: The Urbanist’s Monthly Meetup Is Tuesday at TeKu Tavern

The Urbanist next monthly meetup is Tuesday, November 19th at TeKu Tavern + Cafe in Seattle from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
The Space Needle peeks over the top of midrise rooftops

Join The Urbanist for Our Monthly Meetup on November 19th

The Urbanist next monthly meetup is Tuesday, November 19th at TeKu Tavern + Cafe in Seattle from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Join Us December 5th for The Urbanist’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

Join The Urbanist on December 5 at the historic Stimson-Green Mansion for an evening of celebration, reflection, and community. Space is limited. Get your tickets now!

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A central square in downtown Redmond has a row of bike parking and tents set up for a street far. Midrise apartment buildings ring the square and a construction crane adds another.

Redmond Greenlights Center Upzones, Sixplexes Citywide, Higher Affordability Requirements

The recently passed Redmond 2050 plan increases housing capacity and aims to produce nearly 30,000 new homes by 2050, mostly downtown and in Overlake Village. However, homebuilders warn that the City is adding new obstacles that could impede housing development.

Builders Continue Pivot to Housing in Downtown Bellevue

In shift away from office and toward housing growth, Downtown Bellevue's development pipeline has seen nearly 4,000 additional homes proposed and more than two million square feet of office space abandoned in just the last couple of years. Once built, the pipeline of 14,000 homes would more than double the population of downtown.

Bellevue Reveals Initial Designs for Pedestrian Bridge over I-405

Plans for a new connection between Wilburton and Downtown Bellevue are coming into view, as the City starts to look at how it can keep the project moving forward.

More Eastside Coverage posts »

Seattle Set to Double Down on Arbitrary Parking Mandates

Despite being a longtime parking reform leader, Seattle is set to require off-street parking, even as it unlocks significant housing capacity near transit. This will make housing harder to build.

Updated Seattle Growth Plan Adds Five Neighborhood Anchors, Bigger Fourplexes

An updated version of Seattle's 20-year growth plan includes additional opportunities for housing density, but mostly retains the city's longstanding pattern of walling off lower-density areas of the city.

Seattle’s Growth Plan Keeps Most of the City Unaffordable, County Committee...

Seattle's 20-year growth plan doesn't do enough to ensure that lower income residents will be able to access the vast majority of the city's residential neighborhoods, according to King County's Affordable Housing Committee.

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Ryan Packer in a bike helmet along a bike path with an autumn-colored tree behind

Ryan Packer Talks Vision Zero, Traffic Safety on Hacks and Wonks...

Ryan Packer broke down local "Vision Zero" traffic safety campaigns on a recent episode of the Hacks and Wonks podcast.
Photo of Rian Watt wearing a t-shirt from the National Civil Rights museum and an unbuttoned button down shirt. He is smiling slightly.

Rian Watt Talks Primary Results on Hack and Wonks Podcast

The Urbanist's Senior Advisor Rian Watt discussed primary election results and the latest happenings at Seattle City Hall on a August 9 episode of...

Urbanist Publisher Doug Trumm Discusses Transportation Levy on Hacks & Wonks...

The Urbanist’s Publisher Doug Trumm was recently on Crystal Fincher's Hacks and Wonks podcast to discuss the Seattle transportation levy proposal, which came in well short of where safe streets advocates were pushing the mayor to go. The episode is a good primer on the levy debate.

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