Reservations necessary: Intercity Transit will be requiring reservations ahead of time to make essential trips on transit.
Trail improvement: An improved I-90 bike trail connection is coming to factory later this year.
Putting people first: For years, social welfare and worker protections were derided by right-wing ideologues, but now they are being expanded and held up as necessary during the pandemic.
Halt: Sound Transit has stopped most construction projects ($) due to the novel coronavirus epidemic.
Do it right: Crosscut explains how and when to wear face masks to protect yourself and others.
Lowering traffic deaths: Traffic deaths are falling in California as people drive less due to the statewide stay-at-home order.
Not so generous: Federal relief act is not as generous to transit as some might think.
Second homes: Where do wealthy people own second homes in Washington and why are communities concerned about them ($) staying in those places?
Metro’s operators: What is like to be a King County Metro transit operator in the midst of a pandemic?
Weakening protections: A portion of New York’s rent control law has been struck down by the state supreme court.
Emptying food banks: The pandemic could wind up clearing out Washington food banks in the next two weeks.
Crook: Tim Eyman will have to pay up at least $270,000 mid-April for his dirty deeds; he still owes millions in fines.
Parks online: Some parks are going online to connect people with the outdoors during the pandemic.
Comforting souls: Religious leaders are adapting to the stay-at-home order to tend to their parishioners and provide rites to COVID-19 victims.
Open streets: Many cities like Denver and Oakland are leading the way on open streets during the pandemic.
Rental assistance: Qualifying low-income households in King County could get emergency rent assistance due the pandemic.
Pandemic privilege: The pandemic exposes the class divide in cities.
Resolving issues: Bikesharing parking issues in Seattle now can be reported through Find It, Fix It.
Ballot blocked: Signature gathering for ballot initiatives are failing as people stay home and social distancing is practiced.
Importance of parks: The epidemic has put parks front and center for many people.
The last pandemic: Knute Berger explains how landlords and bootleggers ruled Seattle’s last pandemic.
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.