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Late-night bus service starting March 28 will give riders with late flights at Sea-Tac more breathing room. The pilot is one element of Sound Transit's planned overnight bus network queued to launch this fall.
Recent Posts
Washington House Approves Neighborhood Cafe Bill in Early Floor Vote
House Bill 1175 requires local governments to allow corner stores and cafes, but gives them gives wide latitude to regulate them. A nearly unanimous floor vote early in session signals the bill has a good chance. It's less prescriptive than a similar bill that died in the Washington Senate in 2024.
Katie Wilson Orders Denny Bus Lane to Help Route 8 Riders
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson rolled out two executive orders on Thursday morning, seeking to get major initiatives rolling: expanding emergency housing for homeless residents and bus lanes to speed up the Route 8 bus. Wilson has set a deadline of April 17 for a Denny Way bus lane implementation plan.
Climate Advocate Nilu Jenks Announces D5 Seattle Council Campaign
Lake City activist Nilu Jenks is the first to jump in the race for Seattle City Council’s District 5. The special election could determine control of the council next year. The first-generation Iranian-American is stressing the need to protect immigrants and the environment, as Trump attacks both.
Toshiko Hasegawa Jumps in King County Council District 2 Race
Touting a focus on social housing, transit-oriented development, and lidding I-5, Hasegawa is the second candidate to announce in the race to fill Girmay Zahilay's former King County Council seat.
2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing
With middle housing, transit-oriented development, and parking reform all checked off the list, the Washington legislature's 2026 session looks to be more sedate when it comes to housing. But there are still some impactful reforms on deck tackling some of the smaller issues inhibiting housing production.
One Week In, Katie Wilson Charts the Path Ahead
The Urbanist recently sat down with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson to get the latest on initiatives she has cooking now that her team is in office. We touched on emergency housing, bus lanes, World Cup preparations, Sound Transit, culture change at the police department, and more.
Op-Ed: How to Close Sound Transit’s 35-Billion-Dollar Gap Without Breaking the...
Sound Transit needs a systematic strategy for closing its $35 billion funding gap. Delivering the expansions promised to voters is possible, but requires political leadership and an appetite for a sea change within the agency. A former SDOT director offers a road map.
Join us for The Urbanist January Socials and North Sound Election...
Join us for our January socials in Seattle and in Redmond, plus a special North Sound event recapping the 2025 election and looking to the political battles ahead.
Two Weeks Until The Urbanist’s Winter Holiday Party
Get your ticket to The Urbanist's annual holiday party while supplies last. Our speaking program on December 9 will feature Seattle Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and other urbanist leaders and newly elected officials.
Join Us for The Urbanist’s November and December Events
Join for The Urbanist for our upcoming social meetups, Comprehensive Plan organizing, and our big holiday party extravaganza.
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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.
Mayor Scrambles to Protect ‘Character’ of Old Bellevue with Emergency Controls
Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson's request would bring an emergency action to require facade preservation along Main Street as a condition of future development, while the city considers permanent regulations. While there was majority support for retaining the character of the area, some councilmembers cast doubt on the urgency and emergency framing.
Sammamish Hits Pause on Town Center Planning after Backlash Election
Following an intense debate over the future of Sammamish's fledgling Town Center area in this month's elections, three growth skeptics are set to join the city council. Now the question is just how dramatically things get scaled back in 2026.
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Dionne Foster Takes Office, Aiming to Tackle Housing Issues
Seattle City Councilmember Dionne Foster took office Tuesday, echoing Mayor Katie Wilson's call for "bread and roses" to tackle the city's affordability crisis while strengthening the social and cultural fabric.
Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead
The adoption of the Seattle Comprehensive Plan, nearly one year late under a state-imposed deadline, is setting up much bigger debate over where additional housing density will be allowed in the city. Those issues, set to be discussed in 2026, include adding neighborhood centers and upzones along transit corridors.
Op-Ed: Making Seattle Neighborhoods More Accessible by Design
Four case studies show how Seattle's new middle housing zoning incentives align with demographic shifts to meet housing demand.
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Urbanist Podcast: New Year, New Mayor, New Budget
Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm kick off the new year by breaking down Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's inauguration and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's budget proposal, which included deep cuts to public education, while also queuing up a millionaires income tax for 2029.
Urbanist Podcast: A Light Rail Opening and Police Accountability Door Closing
Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg, and Doug Trumm discuss the Federal Way Link light rail opening in early December, Katie Wilson's transition team and early hires, and the Seattle City Council's vote to approve a controversial labor contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
Urbanist Podcast Election Extravaganza: Puget Sound Progressives Prevail
The Urbanist Podcast is back after a hiatus, just in time to break down 2025 election results. In this episode, Urbanist publisher Doug Trumm and reporter Amy Sundberg discuss what happened in Seattle, with progressive mayoral challenger Katie Wilson's dramatic victory, and other interesting races across the region.
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