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For over 15 years, Portland's TriMet has operated the Westside Express Service (WES) commuter rail line in the suburbs. The line is very atypical with single-car trains, low frequency, and few stops. As the line ages in a post-pandemic environment, the future of it remains murky Climate and Transit on YouTube dives into the history and features of the line and what the future could hold.
Recent Posts
The Urbanist’s Guide to Seattle’s 17,000 Best Spots for Cherry Blossoms
Our map of cherry blossoms hotspots covers more than 44,000 flowering stone fruit trees across Seattle. Check it out to plan your flower tour.
Op-Ed: Optimize Sound Transit, Split System into Urban and Regional Lines
As Sound Transit builds the largest light rail expansion in the country, splitting the system into urban and suburban lines could unlock its full potential and queue up logical extensions.
Op-Ed: Vancouver Shows Carshare’s Success Depends on Great Transit
While Seattle has cycled through carshare startups, Vancouver's Evo carshare program has grown into a big success, aided by strong transit and less competition from ridehailing in British Columbia.
City of Seattle Pushes to Dismiss Appeals Blocking Housing Growth Plan
The six appeals against the One Seattle housing plan had been headed toward a lengthy hearing later this spring. But a filing by the City seeks to dismiss the appeals much more quickly, allowing the plan to move forward.
Seattle Council Lifts Ban on Housing in Stadium District
The 6-3 vote ends a long debate which rehashed a dormant fight over the future of Seattle's Stadium District. With the door now open to residential uses, industrial advocates warn of the continued erosion of the city's industrial lands.
Harrell Sacks Seattle Construction Director as Clock Ticks on Permitting Reform
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections Director Nathan Torgelson announced his resignation in an email to staff today. Torgelson and Mayor Bruce Harrell said the decision was mutual and pledged a smooth transition. Much work is on the department's plate in coming months.
Spring 2025 Service Changes Coming to Puget Sound Transit Agencies
Puget Sound transit agencies will begin implementing their spring service changes as soon as Saturday, March 29, with some routes getting a frequency boost. We dive into the changes.
Join The Urbanist at Thursday Social to Talk Seattle Growth Plan
The Complete Communities Coalition will join us to share how we can ensure city council hears our voices on the One Seattle Plan. The social is from 6pm to 8pm on March 20 at TeKu Tavern.
Join The Urbanist for Our March Social Events
Join The Urbanist for one of our many socials for some comp plan advocacy, or join one of the many local urbanist groups doing their own things.
Join The Urbanist for Our February Social Events
Join The Urbanist for our February social events in Seattle, Redmond, and Shoreline. Next up is our Big Time Brewery meetup on February 20.
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Op-Ed: Why Your City Needs a Tool Library
Nearly a dozen tool libraries are operating in the Puget Sound region and Kirkland is aiming to join the club. Here's what tool libraries add to communities.
Newcastle Mayor Pushed to Scrub Climate Change, Equity from City’s Growth...
Newcastle Mayor Robert Clark pushed to remove references to promoting racial and social equity as "vague," "subjective," and "irrelevant," and called climate change "subjective." Many of his recommendations were adopted by the Newcastle Planning Commission.
Bellevue Pushes to Open Up Bus-Only Lanes to Private Shuttles
Framed as a way to increase the efficiency of new transit lanes being eyed for the RapidRide K Line, the move could give transit agencies across the state less control over one of the biggest tools they have to increase speed and reliability.
More Eastside Coverage posts »
City of Seattle Pushes to Dismiss Appeals Blocking Housing Growth Plan
The six appeals against the One Seattle housing plan had been headed toward a lengthy hearing later this spring. But a filing by the City seeks to dismiss the appeals much more quickly, allowing the plan to move forward.
Facing Legal Appeals, Seattle Poised to Adopt Stopgap Middle Housing Upzones
An interim ordinance will allow Seattle to meet a state deadline, and decide how to allow four and six units on residential lots around the city. But exactly how to do that will likely be a hotly debated issue on the city council.
Op-Ed: Single Family Zoning Is Keeping Seattle Inaccessible to Disabled People
For the last 30 years, Seattle has adopted an urban village approach to growth that has reserved 75% of the city for single-family zoning while concentrating growth into walkable urban centers. This has created de-facto housing segregation, where many people with disabilities can reside only in the minority of neighborhoods classified as urban centers, which are made expensive by their rareness.
More One Seattle Plan posts »
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.
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.
More podcast episodes »