Staff Biography

Ryan Packer

Ryan Packer has been writing for The Urbanist since 2015, and currently reports full-time as Contributing Editor. Their beats are transportation, land use, public space, traffic safety, and obscure community meetings. Packer has also reported for other regional outlets including BikePortland, Seattle Met, and PubliCola. They live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.

Recent Articles

Joy Hollingsworth Takes Helm in Seattle Council Shakeup

District 3 Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth will head the Seattle City Council following a progressive wave election, and will be tasked with managing several distinct factions. Her first task was navigating committee assignments, where comity was prioritized over policymaking priorities.

WSDOT Eyes Major Transformation for SR 99 in Snohomish County

While the upgrades wouldn't happen all at once, and would only go in as other maintenance work occurs, the proposed concept sets a strong baseline for one of the state's most dangerous surface highways.

Katie Wilson Takes Office as Seattle’s Unabashed Urbanist Mayor

In remarks after being sworn in as Seattle's 58th mayor, Katie Wilson painted a vision of improving the daily lives of residents that was explicitly urbanist: focused around livability and ensuring that no one gets pushed out of the city.

Tacoma Turns to Builder Impact Fees to Bolster Transportation Funding

Tacoma's new impact fee regime, which goes into effect next summer, will charge developers based on expected generation of car trips. Despite work to delicately calibrate the new fees, the proposal still drew criticism when it comes to adding costs to needed housing development.
Ferguson stands at the lectern wearing a navy suit and glasses in a Capitol board room.

Ferguson Proposes ‘Unprecedented Sweep’ of Climate Dollars to Balance State Budget

Over $500 million in funding that likely would have been allocated to sustainable transportation and clean energy programs will instead be used to backfill an existing tax credit under Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's budget package. The proposal is drawing fire from climate advocacy groups.