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Driving

What’s Easier than Adding a Bus Lane in Seattle? Deleting One

The City of Seattle will be removing an East Union Street bus only lane set aside for the Route 2 this weekend, ceding to requests from nearby property owners who have complained about traffic changes in the area. Bus riders are chagrined.

While Seattle Population Spikes, Car Population Stalls Out

Seattle's human population is growing fast, but its car population has stalled out. Between 2017 and 2023, Seattle added 35,000 households and about 80,000 residents, but just 3,300 cars, new Census data has revealed -- in news that is music to urbanist ears.
A big flock of pigeons peck around a mostly empty parking lot with one flat bed truck nearby

Why Shoreline’s Vote to Erase Parking Mandates Is a Big Deal

Parking reform has become a national movement, aimed at reducing housing costs. With a nudge from state law, Shoreline joins the trend to support urban development and a shift toward greener transportation options.
Shoreline North 185th Street station from the platform with an apartment building under construction

Shoreline Makes Good on Pledge to Stop Mandating Car Parking Citywide

Shoreline becomes the largest city in King County to let builders decide how much parking makes sense within the specifics of a site, rather than requiring an arbitrary number. The 6-0 city council vote follows a watershed state bill tackling parking earlier this year.
An aerial shot of North Tacoma neighborhoods with Mount Rainier and the Tacoma Dome in the distance.

Op-Ed: Students Advocate for Carpooling Incentives at High School Parking Lots

Only three of 15 high schools analyzed in King County have carpooling incentives: Issaquah, Redmond, and Interlake high schools. Expanding carpooling incentives would allow schools to encourage greener commutes while getting more utility out of limited parking spaces.
A sailboat passes in front of the seating area at Gas Works with the skyline in the distance

Rinck Proposes Restoring Growth Centers Dropped from One Seattle Plan

The potential Seattle Comprehensive Plan changes, which are set to be discussed Monday, would add back growth centers around Gas Works Park, Alki, North Capitol Hill, and other areas. Councilmember Rinck also proposes legalizing corner stores and removing parking mandates citywide.
RapidRide heads north on SR-99 just after the Aurora Bridge. (Photo by Doug Trumm)

Op-Ed: Seattle Is Failing to Reimagine Aurora Avenue

SDOT's latest report indicates the agency is envisioning the future of Aurora Avenue N to look nearly exactly the same as it has for the last 100 years: a dangerous, high speed, six- to seven-lane highway. Seattle needs to do better.

Op-Ed: The War Over Tacoma’s Planting Strips

How the City of Tacoma uses planting strips along its streets tells a tale of haves and have-nots, and of our differing standards. The City has gone out of its way to exclude homeless people from this space with $163,000 worth of boulders.