A bright red RapidRide bus with the sun glinting in the sky
The adoption of a locally preferred alternative allows Metro to fully advance design work while seeking federal funding. Outstanding questions remain, including how bus priority will be added along a contentious segment in Houghton.
As the city prepares to celebrate the grand opening of the full Seattle Waterfront revamp, the only planned direct connection between downtown and the waterfront is set to remain uncompleted. At the center of the issue is an antiquated traffic signal.
Students hold signs urging gun prevention and holistic approached to end violence.
A group of high school student activists make the case we don’t need more cops in schools. We need more care, as the Seattle Student Union fought for and had been promised. The research is clear on what works.
A peach-colored house with teal trim and a grassy lawn
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) just got a bit easier to build in Seattle, as legislation passed in May went into effect yesterday. The reform will help Seattle meet state mandates to make ADUs easier to built. Ultimately, wider middle housing reforms planned in the coming months may prove more attractive to builders.
Alexis and Shaun stand in a picnic area with trees and the pipes and beams of Gas Works in the background.
Alexis Mercedes Rinck's new "Roots to Roofs" bill would provide zoning bonuses for community-based organizations to build housing and other cultural spaces, building on the rejected Connected Communities pilot. It already has the support of Land Use Chair Mark Solomon.
Katie Wilson a red button-up shirt with a navy sweater. Zohran wears a blue suit and a light blue shirt. He wears a beard and a smile.
Progressive mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s victory in Tuesday's Democratic primary is a watershed moment for New York City, and Seattle is on the cusp of its own watershed moment with the opportunity to elect Katie Wilson, a progressive who would break a long run of timid centrist leadership.
Dave Amos explores the issue of the dearth of rapid transit expansion in the U.S. over the last half-century. He highlights some unique exceptions and the move toward light rail systems instead. Density seems a key culprit for the dearth of metro systems.
A crossword puzzle with The Urbanist written in for one of the answers.
Take the sixth installment of The Urbanist's crossword series, which runs every two weeks. If you love to take a contemplative moment with a brain-teasing puzzle, but you’re tired of nationally syndicated crosswords with no local flair or stance on high-capacity transit, you’re right where you need to be.