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Recent Posts

Prem and young supporters pose with yellow campaign shirts and yard signs.

Op-Ed: Shilpa Prem Is the Best Choice for Kirkland Council

Kirkland Councilmember Penny Sweet makes the case for why Shilpa Prem should be her successor on Council. The Urbanist Elections Committee agreed and endorsed Prem, too.

Seattle Community Councils Push Against Restoring Neighborhood Growth Centers

Neighborhood groups are pushing back on additional density in Wallingford, West Seattle, and Queen Anne. An amendment from Alexis Mercedes Rinck to restore eight growth centers dropped from the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan at an earlier stage is front-and-center.

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 crossword puzzle with The Urbanist written in for one of the answers.

Quiz Your Knowledge with The Urbanist Crossword Puzzle for September 7

Take the 11th installment of The Urbanist's crossword series, which runs every two weeks. If you love to take a contemplative moment with a brain-teasing puzzle, but you’re tired of nationally syndicated crosswords with no local flair or stance on high-capacity transit, you’re right where you need to be.

The Seattle Waterfront Park Amenities That Never Crossed the Finish Line

While the primary debate over the remade Seattle waterfront has focused on the size of Alaskan Way, a whole slate of potential public space improvements also ended up on the cutting room floor. Those include a festival pier, a pool barge, and a pedestrian street.
Officials stand on the steps of Seattle's US Courthouse after the consent decree hearing.

Federal Judge Ends Consent Decree Oversight of Seattle Police Department

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Robart granted the motion to terminate Seattle’s consent decree, ending a saga of federal police oversight that began 15 years ago. Community safety advocates say issues remain at the Seattle Police Department and more reforms are needed.

Sound Transit Eyes Double-Length Light Rail Vehicles for Next Major Purchase

The Series 3 cars, set to go into service starting in 2033, would boost passenger capacity by between 5% and 13% while being 10% cheaper. Other details, including passenger layout and amenities, remain to be determined as Sound Transit continues planning.
A rendering shows a simple concrete bridge with a high span over Salmon Bay, with piers in the background.

The Sound Transit Board Signals a Return to Parochialism

Faced with an agency-wide budget gap approaching $30 billion for the next wave of expansion plans, Sound Transit boardmembers are retreating to their corners and doubling down on parochialism. Clearly, a more holistic approach is needed, driven by outcomes and regional cooperation.