Stephen Fesler
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.
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.
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.
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.
Beginning on Monday, March 31, King County Metro will relaunch fare enforcement on buses and streetcars after a five-year hiatus. The new format will be a little more forgiving for fare payment violations.
Citing corrosion, Amtrak suddenly recalled 70 Horizon rail cars for maintenance on March 25, heavily impacting several routes, including Amtrak Cascades between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC. Down to one operable trainset, Amtrak Cascades will be forced to rely on replacement bus service.
Pinehurst Station construction and downtown tunnel track repairs are bringing disruptions to 1 Line light rail service from now until May 29. The downtown tunnel work will truncate service from April 14 to 23. Plan accordingly.
A decades-long planned Link infill station in North Tukwila is set to move into environmental review with a single alternative recommended by Sound Transit staff. The recommended alternative forsakes a long standing objective to connect with Sounder and leaves the station relatively isolated.
In this video, Climate and Transit dives into the history of Portland's Westside Express Service commuter rail line and what the future could hold for the "weird" and aging service.