Yearly Archives: 2025

Amtrak Begins to Restore Cascades Train Service with Relocated Trains

Amtrak has sourced temporary rail cars to restore curtailed Cascades train service, following last week’s removal of 26 Horizon rail cars needing repair for corrosion issues. An additional run to Vancouver, BC will start April 1.
A small cottage with its doors open, revealing living room, behind a larger parent house

Snohomish County Relaxes Urban Accessory Dwelling Rules Ahead of State Deadlines

The Snohomish County Council has further liberalized accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations in urban unincorporated areas, building on reforms enacted in 2021. Spurred by state reforms, the County will be allowing more bulk flexibility and ending common ownership requirements for ADUs, and allowing two ADUs of any type per lot.
Bruce Harrell in a suit standing at a lectern. MLK Labor’s Executive Secretary-Treasurer Katie Garrow is to the left and OSE Director Jessyn Farrell to the right. A hazy Seattle skyline is in the background from Queen Anne vantage.

Op-Ed: Bruce Harrell Is a Failed Mayor on Housing

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has failed on housing, Ron Davis writes. Whether kickstarting a homegrown social housing push, encouraging a wide diversity of market-rate housing, or scaling up traditional nonprofit low-income housing to meet the need, Harrell’s halfhearted efforts have fallen flat.

Sunday Video: How Hoboken Is Taking on Road Safety, Vision Zero

Ray Delahanty of CityNerd takes a look at what Hoboken, New Jersey has been doing on safety. Across the river from New York City, the city hasn't been a road fatality since 2019 and has worked hard to implement Vision Zero redesigns on streets citywide.
A quiet pedestrian street with a few people walking and plenty of tree canopy with a midrise residential building in the background.

Op-Ed: Harrell’s Growth Plan Shorts Housing and Tree Canopy

Architect Michael Eliason shares his blueprint for a greener Seattle with more abundant and affordable housing. The vision goes beyond townhomes to stacked flats amidst ample tree canopy.

Urbanist Election Committee Endorses Alexis Rinck for Seattle Council

We see in Alexis Mercedes Rinck the moxie to fight, the savvy to collaborate, and the backbone to stand up to the powerful people getting in the way of progress. Read on to see The Urbanist Election Committee's case for re-electing Rinck.

Kirkland, Bellevue Sign Off on Proposed RapidRide K Bus Improvements

The local endorsement of a preferred alternative means King County Metro can work toward full design. The agency hopes to secure federal funding at a time of great uncertainty around federal support for public transit projects.
Constantine sits at fishbowl desk with a U-ring of seated boardmembers around him and a video screen with the members joining online.

Sound Transit Hires Constantine as CEO in Unanimous Vote

Dow Constantine will leave his post as King County Executive and take over as Sound Transit's CEO on April 1, after the agency's board of directors approved the hiring in a unanimous vote Thursday. Constantine takes over at a tenuous time, with projects budgets bursting at the seams.