Yearly Archives: 2025

A bus on Rainier Avenue passes by as a pedestrian walks up the side street in Columbia City.

Op-Ed: Expand Urbanism, Emphasize Inclusion and Equity in Our Shared Vision

King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay and Rian Watt make the case for a more inclusive urbanism: "To fully realize the transformative promise of urbanism, we must be willing to ask: urbanism for whom?"
A view north up First Avenue shows a hodge of Pioneer Square historic brick buidlings, tall glass scrapers and a large parking garage.

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Bring Transit Back to Seattle’s First Avenue

Restoring transit routes to First Avenue, after they were removed in 2011 to make way for the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, is a needed step in downtown mobility as the neighborhood enters a new era.
A train in testing arriving at Downtown Redmond, with buildings under construction behnind

Sound Transit Shutters Redmond Link for Repairs Attributed to Heat Wave

Last night, Sound Transit announced it was shutting down 2 Line light rail service on its new Redmond segment (which just opened May 10) to allow for overhead wire repairs. Until that work is complete and inspected, a bus bridge is replacing the light rail service, connecting to Overlake Station where the 2 Line continues to operate in the shortened segment to South Bellevue.
A large first sculture on home plate of the baseball field at Cal Anderson.

Op-Ed: Seattle Police Mishandled Protests Again, We Must Learn from Mistakes

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell called for an internal report after police took heat for disrupting a pro-LGBTQ counterprotest and shielding anti-trans protesters. Given a long-running pattern of police failures, the process must be public and rigorous to make a difference, Seattle City Attorney candidate Rory O'Sullivan argues.

Washington State Overhauls Driver’s Education System, Focusing on Young Motorists 

A newly signed Washington State law aims to “improve safety for young drivers” by expanding access to driver’s education and raising the minimum age at which new drivers can get a license without completing a formal driver’s education course.

Sea to Desert: The 700-mile Bikepacking Route Uniting Washington

In May 17th grand depart, 138 people attempted a 700-mile mountain bike route from La Push to Tekoa, Washington, dubbed the Cross-Washington or XWA bikepacking race.
A line forms out the door into the plaza at El Centro de la Raza.

Join The Urbanist for June Events, Eastside Forum on July 6th

Headlining our June events, we urge folks to attend the Seattle Comprehensive Plan public comment session on June 23. The Urbanist is also hosting an "Urbanism on the Eastside" panel on Sunday, July 6.
An Asian woman with straight long black hair, Chunn sits at a table gesturing broadly with hands talking to the man seated next to her.

Jeanie Chunn Wants to Reverse D2’s Neglect in Seattle Council Bid

Longtime small business and workers’ rights advocate Jeanie Chunn jumped into the race for Seattle City Council District 2 only a short time before...