Image description: a sketch of a Link light rail train at an elevated station with text reading: Move Redmond 12:00 to 4PM May 10th Redmond 2 Line Opening Celebration - trails 2 transit presented by Sound Transit at Downtown Redmond Station..

Recent Posts

The sprawling detention center is surrounded by parking with Mount Rainier in the background.

Op-Ed: Ferguson Must Get Tough on Trump, Illegal Tacoma ICE Jail

Governor Bob Ferguson should sign HB 1232 into law and immediately make use of the enforcement mechanisms it contains to stop unconstitutional detentions at ICE’s Tacoma Processing Center. The State should also impose fines on the for-profit corporate jailer to discourage the violations.

Seattle Council Pushes Most Zoning Changes Into 2026, Citing Appeal Delays

Phase two of the One Seattle Plan had included additional housing density around 30 existing commercial centers like Tangletown and Madrona, but now those changes won't be discussed until after this fall's elections, pushing key housing actions into 2026.
Washington is a black woman with short hair. She holds the microphone and looks to her left toward Natalie Walton-Anderson and the auditor as she delivers her rebuttal.

Auditor Criticizes Seattle’s Approach to Gun Violence, Deputy Mayor Fires Back

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell pushed back against an auditor report calling for more coordination around gun violence prevention and criticizing SPD’s haphazard approach to investigations. Deputy Mayor Tiffani Washington said she felt disrespected by the audit process being reinitiated by Council President Sara Nelson and that the issue was already under control.

Seattle Tosses a Lifeline to Housing Projects Stuck in Limbo

Extensions for permit applications submitted under prior building codes could impact more than 3,000 distinct projects across the city, but the direct target of the legislation is around a dozen high-profile projects downtown that could spring back to life.
Magnolia Boulevard with the Seattle skyline and a thin layer of fog in the distance.

Kicking Off Our Annual Spring Member Drive

We're kicking off our two-week member drive, where we ask readers to chip in so we can sustain and grow our operation. This drive, we're also offering a new perk: Make a qualifying donation and score an Urbanist beanie.
A elevated platform sits on the side of an urban road with a smattering of large midrise apartment buildings bordering it.

A Local’s Guide to the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension

Andrew Villeneuve offers recommendations for Redmond eats, activities, and happenings and invites urbanists to Northwest Progressive Institute's Downtown Redmond Link opening day celebration on May 10.
A large midrise building with some landscaping on the edges and blue skies and a fluffy cloud overhead.

State Senate Greenlights Sweeping Transit-Oriented Housing Bill

Three years in the making, HB 1491 would require Washington cities to zone for apartment buildings near rail stations and rapid bus stops. A compromise around housing affordability mandates finally paved the way for the bill's passage in both chambers.

RapidRide G Line Attracts Major Bus Ridership Gains Along Madison Street

The addition of RapidRide G Line to Seattle's transit network led to nearly 5,000 additional trips that weren't happening in the corridor before. The latest numbers illustrate the big gains that can come with service and frequency improvements.