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

Kirkland Council Makes Way for Redevelopment of Contentious Juanita Sites

Up to 800 homes could advance on two underdeveloped retail sites in Kirkland's Juanita neighborhood thanks to a zoning update that raises height limits to 75 feet. The road to get to this point involved nearly two years of process, and nearly became derailed ahead of a final council vote.
Passengers board and disembark at Westlake Station's northbound platform.

Eliminating Second Seattle Rail Tunnel Could Save $4.5B, But With Major Impacts, Delays

Sound Transit's analysis, prompted by a request from King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, looks at ways to get to Ballard without a new tunnel under Downtown Seattle. While the potential cost savings could be as much as $4.5 billion, the idea of delaying Ballard Link even further on top of significant risk factors makes additional consideration by the board unlikely.

Sound Transit Board Closes In on Fare Gate Proposal

The board motion advanced this week asks for one final look at where fare gates would make sense in Sound Transit's light rail system before implementing a potential pilot program before the end of 2026.
Dana is an Asian woman with black hair wearing a gray coat. She stands on a sidewalk-less corner by a utility pole. In the distance are some large apartment complexes.

Despite Sidewalk Funding Boost, Some Seattle Neighborhoods Still Feel Shortchanged

Seattle is missing thousands of blocks of sidewalks. But the lower-cost sidewalk alternatives being advanced by the Seattle Department of Transportation don't always live up to what's expected in neighborhoods that have lacked basic infrastructure for decades.

Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail

Transit riders and elected officials alike celebrated light rail's arrival in South King County, as Sound Transit held a grand celebration to tout its three new stations and cut the ribbon in Federal Way.