Get safer: The City of Seattle has launched a brand new digital emergency alert system called “AlertSeattle”.
Street power: Edinburgh’s newish streetcar system is a success story.
McMansion return: Despite a resurgence of urban living and building, the McMansion has come roaring back.
Keeping the colors: In an effort to display African-American culture, locals in the Central District painted crosswalks in Pan-African flag colors; the Seattle Department of Transportation plans to keep them.
Better options: West Seattle could be an even better transit-oriented community with bus rapid transit and light rail.
Power to the people: Beginning Saturday night, 3 blocks of E Pike Street will be closed to vehicles in Capitol Hill on Saturday nights as part of a pilot project.
By permit only: Sound Transit could see expansion of permit parking at park-and-rides across the region due to successful pilot program.
Vancity: Vancouver, BC recognizes that family-sized housing is in short supply in the central city, but building more in towers does pose problems.
Clean power: What President Obama’s national Clean Power Plan means for environmental justice.
Fixing Rainier: Work on the Rainier Avenue safety redesign project has begun.
Disparity: For one man, living in Barcelona and flying to London for work was much cheaper than just living in London.
Danger in numbers: A new game is out simply to prove that driving is dangerous.
Rainbow power: Reykjavík goes all in on rainbow-painted streets.
Equitable communities: Social housing policies strike a lot strong feelings amongst people, but one New York Times op-ed asks “where should a poor family live?”
Repugnant campaign: Racism is alive and well in Stockholm?
Mini concrete barriers: DC shows how protected bike lanes can be done well and quick.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.