Be excited: Rep. Peter DeFazio (Oregon – 4th District), a longtime advocate for transit and biking, is retiring, but he has a positive message for sustainable transportation advocates.
Connecting communities: Could the transportation funding law help remove the scars of highways?
Clear bike lanes: Portland has a bike lane sweeper, but it could be used more, Bike Portland says.
Good guidance: The federal transportation department wants governments to use federal funding for more sustainable transportation investments.
Trash bins: Seattle is trying out a $50,000 trash bin pilot program in Capitol Hill.
Capping fares: Fare capping will come to New York City next year.
Still a crisis: New data on homelessness in King County shows that the crisis still persists.
Acer House: What’s happening with the Central District Acer House project?
Reducing noise: A new program for Puget Sound could reduce underwater noise.
Bike boom obstacles: What’s holding back the e-bike boom?
MHA: Townhouse and rowhouse developers want changes to Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability program ($).
Legalizing housing: The New Zealand government has adopted sweeping infill housing and zoning reforms.
Broadway Subway: Construction has begun on the elevated guideway for SkyTrain’s Broadway Subway extension in Vancouver.
SnoCo takes action: Snohomish County has passed legislation that will fund new permanent supportive housing and behavioral health services ($).
DC Metro: In Washington, D.C., 7000 series trains will start returning to service under a new operational safety plan, which should restore service.
College affordability: Affordable housing is a huge problem for American college students and their success ($).
E-scooters: A study suggests that e-scooters may be good for the mental health of riders.
Irish rail: Ireland’s passenger rail provider Iarnród Éireann plans to cut travel times between Dublin and Cork and make other system improvements.
Braille: Vancouver’s TransLink has begun installing braille signs on 8,400 bus stops.
Apartment bans: A proposal in New York’s legislature is taking direct aim at apartment bans.
Missing out: Why are American planners and policymakers missing the e-bike boom?
ADUs: The New York Times looks into accessory dwelling units in California ($).
Rethink parking: Retail parking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and could be repurposed for other uses.
New admin: Bruce Harrell has already started to assemble his management and leadership team.
Abolish state DOTs: Oregon’s transportation department plans to keep on polluting amid the climate crisis.
Natural gas ban: Shoreline has taken action to ban natural gas in certain cases.
Historic preservation is broken: Preservationists want to protect New York City Penn Station, which is universally despised for its awful and inhumane design.
Encampments: Publicola covers Seattle’s latest encampment removal approach.
Highrise city: Vancouver is booming with new highrise projects.
NoHo, SoHo: In New York City, an upzone process is moving forward for NoHo/SoHo.
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.