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This fall, The Urbanist is running our seasonal subscriber drive, with the return of The Urbanist beanie and a bike scavenger hunt next weekend.

North Beacon Hill Bike Lanes Officially Open, Filling Crucial Network Gap

People on bikes can finally connect from Little Saigon to Jefferson Park in their own protected lane, with future connections planned to the north and south. Concerns about lost parking on 15th Avenue S almost doomed the project.

Op-Ed: Step Aside Waterfront, Long Neglected North Rainier Deserves Investment, Too 

A thriving Mount Baker Transit Center requires pedestrian upgrades, a revitalized commercial district, and plenty of housing nearby. Unfortunately, the City of Seattle is investing elsewhere, with North Rainier an afterthought.

Harrell Pledges Seattle Will Be AI Leader, Plan Fuzzy on Details

Last week, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the City’s new AI Plan, which looks to harness the current artificial intelligence boom in the tech sector by integrating AI into the City’s operations, public services, and civic engagement. But critics worry about the ethical implications of AI use in public services, as well as its potential impacts on workers and environmental harms.

Op-Ed: SDOT’s Flawed Analysis of Denny Bus Lanes Is Political Theater

Assuming bottomless motorist demand and no mode shift to transit made the Seattle Department of Transportation's study of Denny Way bus lanes effectively worthless. Route 8 upgrades deserves real consideration.

Seattle Narrows Down Options for Initial ‘Low Pollution Neighborhoods’

The Seattle Department of Transportation is eyeing seven neighborhoods with high rates of pollution, low car ownership rates, and high collision intersections, such as South Park, Lake City, and Capitol Hill, for its low-pollution pilot program. The list will ultimately be whittled down to three program sites.

Steffanie Fain Makes Pragmatic Moderate Pitch for King County Council D5

The Urbanist sat down with Steffanie Fain, who is running for King County Council’s District 5 seat and facing off with SeaTac City Councilmember Peter Kwon. Both position themselves as tax-averse fiscal hawks, but Fain expressed marginally more openness towards raising new revenue to tackle the numerous challenges facing King County.

Sound Transit Outlines Promising Everett Link Cost Reductions, Bleaker Seattle News

Costs are going up on all Sound Transit 3 projects, with West Seattle Link now expected to cost up to $7.9 billion, Everett Link $7.7 billion, and Ballard Link more than $20 billion. Sound Transit has been able to identify cost-saving opportunities in Everett, but Seattle is in a tough position.

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A group of about 30 people stands in a park with an Urbanist banner set up and a stand of trees in the background.

Kicking off The Urbanist Fall Subscriber Drive, Score Your Merch

This fall, The Urbanist is running our seasonal subscriber drive, with the return of The Urbanist beanie and a bike scavenger hunt next weekend.

Join The Urbanist for September Socials, Bike Ride, and Volunteer Training

This September, The Urbanist is blending community-building with political advocacy as we head into the thick of Seattle Comprehensive Plan and election season. Beyond our social meetups, join us at a Comp Plan-themed Madison Valley walking tour September 10 or a bike scavenger hunt on September 28.

Join The Urbanist and Seattle OPCD for Madison Valley Walking Tour

On September 10, The Urbanist is hosting a Madison Valley walking tour featuring Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development staff, who will discuss the "neighborhood center" rezone proposed for the area. It will be great preparation for the City's September 12 public comment session on the One Seattle growth plan.

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Redmond Celebrates Opening of Trail Connection to Eastrail Corridor

The City of Redmond cut the ribbon on the Redmond Central Connector trail on Friday. The trail's final 1.6-mile segment opened earlier this summer, finally connecting Downtown Redmond directly with the 42-mile Eastrail corridor that will ultimately stretch from Renton to Snohomish County.

Powered Link Train Crosses I-90 for First Time in Pivotal Test

With the long-awaited inaugural "live wire" test successful, Sound Transit will continue tests on the Lake Washington bridge for another 10 to 12 weeks, followed by several months of running empty trains. Monday's test was a crucial milestone to stay on track for a full 2 Line grand opening next spring.
Prem and young supporters pose with yellow campaign shirts and yard signs.

Op-Ed: Shilpa Prem Is the Best Choice for Kirkland Council

Kirkland Councilmember Penny Sweet makes the case for why Shilpa Prem should be her successor on Council. The Urbanist Elections Committee agreed and endorsed Prem, too.

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Hundreds Turn Out for Last Seattle Growth Plan Hearing

More than 200 testifiers weighed in on the Comprehensive Plan and dozens of proposed amendments ahead of planned votes this week. The topics of neighborhood centers, tree retention, and social housing dominated the hourslong hearing.
Looking up Phinney Avenue with a five-story apartment building on the corner and another under construction just north.

Urbanists Push to Amend Seattle Growth Plan Ahead of Final Vote

Seattle’s long saga of passing its state-required, once-per-decade major update to its Comprehensive Plan is nearing its end. But first, one more public hearing will be held this Friday for residents to air their grievances or do their cheerleading. Here's our guide to the 106 amendments under consideration.

Seattle Community Councils Push Against Restoring Neighborhood Growth Centers

Neighborhood groups are pushing back on additional density in Wallingford, West Seattle, and Queen Anne. An amendment from Alexis Mercedes Rinck to restore eight growth centers dropped from the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan at an earlier stage is front-and-center.

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A line forms out the door into the plaza at El Centro de la Raza.

An Audio Recap of The Urbanist’s ‘Future of Seattle Housing’ Panel

Want a deep dive on the latest in Seattle housing policy? The Urbanist has you covered. Check out this recording and transcript of our April housing panel with experts.

Urbanist Reporters Appear on Hacks and Wonks Podcast

The Urbanist's contributing editor Ryan Packer and reporter Amy Sundberg appeared on back-to-back episodes of the Hacks and Wonks podcast this week. Be sure...
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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.

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