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Seattle Council Passes Budget Swiping Affordable Housing Funds to Boost SPD

The Sara Nelson-led Seattle City Council passed their first city budget in an 8-1 vote. It greenlit the mayor’s plan to slash investments in affordable housing and social services and trim 48 staff positions in order to boost police spending by 16% and close a large deficit without raising new taxes.

Sound Transit Study Bolsters Case Against CID Station at Fourth Avenue

A third-party consultant told the Sound Transit board this week that the Fourth Avenue station option in Chinatown is "not reasonably constructible," due to lengthy construction timelines and a laundry list of risks that come with construction next to a BNSF rail line.

Seattle Voters Approve $1.55 Billion Transportation Levy

Passage of Seattle's transportation levy was all but assured Tuesday night, after initial returns showed two-thirds of voters in support.

Sound Transit 1 Line Maintenance Disruptions Will Bring Long-term Gains

Weekend disruptions for 1 Line riders in early November and December will likely cause headaches, but are set to ultimately benefit riders. Mark your calendar to navigate disrupted light rail service November 8-10 and December 7-8.

Sound Transit Board Rubberstamps West Seattle Link Route, Amid Cost Issues

The Sound Transit board approved the route for West Seattle Link Thursday, clearing the way for engineering work that will advance the project to 80% design by 2027. Opponents cited worries that rising project costs would jeopardize light rail extensions to Tacoma and to Everett.

Pacific Northwest’s Largest Highway Project Ever Is in Deep Denial

Proponents of a $7.5 billion project to widen I-5 and replace the Columbia River bridge are ignoring induced demand, creating faulty traffic models that obscure its real environmental impact.

Why Ballard Link Is Still Trapped in Planning Limbo

Ballard Link is still in planning, eight years after the passage of Sound Transit 3. With the environmental review process essentially starting over, major action on the project isn't expected until 2025.

2024 General Election Endorsements

The Urbanist Elections Committee has unveiled our 2024 general election endorsements. We're excited about this slate of urbanists, who are poised to make a difference.