Staff Biography
Stephen Fesler
Senior ReporterStephen 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.
Recent Articles
Amtrak Shelves 70 Aging ‘Horizon’ Traincars, Upending Cascades Service Indefinitely
Citing corrosion, Amtrak suddenly recalled 70 Horizon rail cars for maintenance on March 25, heavily impacting several routes, including Amtrak Cascades between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC. Down to one operable trainset, Amtrak Cascades will be forced to rely on replacement bus service.
More 1 Line Disruptions Ahead for Sound Transit Riders Through May
Pinehurst Station construction and downtown tunnel track repairs are bringing disruptions to 1 Line light rail service from now until May 29. The downtown tunnel work will truncate service from April 14 to 23. Plan accordingly.
Sound Transit Recommends Costly, Car-Oriented Infill Station in Northern Tukwila
A decades-long planned Link infill station in North Tukwila is set to move into environmental review with a single alternative recommended by Sound Transit staff. The recommended alternative forsakes a long standing objective to connect with Sounder and leaves the station relatively isolated.
Sunday Video: Portland’s ‘Weird’ Westside Express Commuter Rail Line
In this video, Climate and Transit dives into the history of Portland's Westside Express Service commuter rail line and what the future could hold for the "weird" and aging service.
Spring 2025 Service Changes Coming to Puget Sound Transit Agencies
Puget Sound transit agencies will begin implementing their spring service changes as soon as Saturday, March 29, with some routes getting a frequency boost. We dive into the changes.