The Urbanist

Former Seattle Council Candidate Ron Davis Challenges Longtime Legislator Gerry Pollet » The Urbanist # Taking on an incumbent who has been in office since 2011, Ron Davis is eyeing tax changes, housing reforms, and a more robust state response to federal overreach as major planks of his platform.

NEW STORY // Former Seattle Council Candidate Ron Davis Challenges Longtime Legislator Gerry Pollet

Check out Ryan Packer's interview with @ronpdavis.bsky.social, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/05/s...

Op-Ed: Why Seattle Neighborhood Greenways Is Rebranding as Seattle Streets Alliance » The Urbanist # After 15 years fighting for safe streets, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is excited to become Seattle Streets Alliance to more accurately reflect the nature of our grassroots organization’s mission....

After 13 years of working for @sngreenways.bsky.social, I'm now working for @streetsalliance.bsky.social! Wait, what? Read more on @theurbanist.org

Wilson Rolls Out Bills Expediting Emergency Housing for Homeless Residents » The Urbanist # Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson rolled out new legislation intended to expedite production of emergency housing and homeless shelter at the Hope Factory in SoDo. She aims to produce 1,000 units in her fi...

NEW STORY // Wilson Rolls Out Bills Expediting Emergency Housing for Homeless Residents

By Doug Trumm, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/05/w...

Op-Ed: Why Seattle Neighborhood Greenways Is Rebranding as Seattle Streets Alliance » The Urbanist # After 15 years fighting for safe streets, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is excited to become Seattle Streets Alliance to more accurately reflect the nature of our grassroots organization’s mission....

NEW OP-ED // Why Seattle Neighborhood Greenways Is Rebranding as Seattle Streets Alliance

By Joshua Holland of @streetsalliance.bsky.social, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/05/o...

Today, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced three pieces of legislation intended to speed the creation of tiny home villages and other forms of emergency housing serving homeless people.

WSDOT Advances Plan to Tame I-90 Ramps at Judkins Park Station » The Urbanist # WSDOT's concept would remove the northbound ramp from I-90 onto Rainier Avenue and improve safety at the other freeway ramps. A clear step in the right direction, the unfunded plan is not as bold as...

NEW STORY // WSDOT Advances Plan to Tame I-90 Ramps at Judkins Park Station

By Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org

www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/04/w...

Seattle Planning Director Says Upzones Within Two Blocks of Transit Inbound… Eventually » The Urbanist # Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's administration is queuing up housing density increases within two blocks of all frequent transit corridors, planning director Rico Quirondongo revealed at a recent meeti...

NEW STORY // Seattle Planning Director Says Upzones Within Two Blocks of Transit Inbound… Eventually

By Doug Trumm, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/03/s...

Sound Transit Breaks Ground on Stride S3 Bothell-to-Shoreline Bus Line » The Urbanist # When it opens in 2028, the S3 rapid bus line will provide riders across Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline with a more frequent, reliable transit option and extend the reach of Sound ...

NEW STORY // Sound Transit Breaks Ground on Stride S3 Bothell-to-Shoreline Bus Line

By Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org

www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/02/s...

Neighborhood Cafe and Corner Store Bill Fails for Third Straight Year » The Urbanist # The failure of HB 1175 to make it to the state Senate floor mirrors a similar fate two years ago. Bill sponsor Mark Klicker placed the decision to let the neighborhood cafe bill die squarely on Loca...

NEW STORY // Neighborhood Cafe and Corner Store Bill Fails for Third Straight Year

By Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org.

www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/02/n...

It sounds like the jockeying to get this onto tomorrow's agenda has continued through this weekend, with Sound Transit board members courting transportation committee chair Jake Fey to advance the 75 year bond bill.

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Will Finally Connect Across I-90 on March 28 » The Urbanist # Eagerly awaited by transit riders, the full 2 Line light rail connection will finally bridge Seattle and the Eastside and bring expanded train service all the way from Redmond to Lynnwood. The expan...

www.theurbanist.org/2026/01/23/s...

T-minus 27 days to crosslake 2 Line launch. 🚝

Sunday Video: CityNerd’s Best Transit Cities in North America » The Urbanist # Ray Delahanty of CityNerd ranked the top transit cities in North America based on metropolitan region ridership per capita. Seattle narrowly makes Ray's top 15 list. Check out who is above Seattle.

NEW // Sunday Video: CityNerd’s Best Transit Cities in North America

Video by @nerd4cities.bsky.social. // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/03/01/s...

Op-Ed: Seattle’s No-Cost Climate Pollution Cut » The Urbanist # A Sightline Institute study quantified the impact of growing up, not sprawling out, estimating that the Seattle metro area’s slightly less-sprawling growth since 2000 was keeping 1 million tons of g...

NEW STORY // Seattle’s No-Cost Climate Pollution Cut

Story by Jay Lee / @sightline.org , cross-posted on @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/28/o...

‘Existential’ Budget Cut Would Wipe Out State Urban Forestry Program » The Urbanist # The proposed state House operating budget would zero out the Washington State Urban and Community Forestry program, which cities across the state rely on to leverage federal dollars for trees. The e...

ICYMI: cuts on deck in the Washington House's budget are poised to fully eliminate the state's urban forestry programs, and could even force local governments & nonprofits to pay back funding that they've already been awarded for tree work.
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/27/e...

Urbanist Podcast: Social Housing and Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability » The Urbanist # In this podcast episode, The Urbanist's newsroom dive into recent headlines including Katie Wilson's State of the City speech, which bills are moving and which are dying at the Washington State Legi...

NEW URBANIST PODCAST // Social Housing and Katie Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability

By Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg and Doug Trumm, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/26/u...

‘Existential’ Budget Cut Would Wipe Out State Urban Forestry Program » The Urbanist # The proposed state House operating budget would zero out the Washington State Urban and Community Forestry program, which cities across the state rely on to leverage federal dollars for trees. The e...

NEW STORY // ‘Existential’ Budget Cut Would Wipe Out State Urban Forestry Program

Story by Ryan Packer, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/27/e...

The list of bills set to get a vote in the House transportation committee on Monday (the very last day for action) is out and Sound Transit's 75-year bond bill is not currently on it.

Legislation Targeting Ground-Floor Storefronts Gets Overhauled in House » The Urbanist # After concerns were raised by city officials around removing flexibility to create vibrant and walkable neighborhoods, the version approved by the House local government committee sets a 40% cap on ...

NEW STORY // Legislation Targeting Ground-Floor Storefronts Gets Overhauled in State House

By Ryan Packer, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/27/l...

Big news!

Steven Bird Remembrance this Saturday in Kent with funds raised going to our friends at the Non Drivers Alliance and Tacoma On The Go. Folks working to prevent further tragedies like Steven's, who was killed in a road rage incident. Check it out!

Op-Ed: Transit in Rainier National Park Would Ensure Paradise for Everyone » The Urbanist # A robust public transit network for Mount Rainier National Park could unlock trailheads and attractions to more visitors, while improving environmental sustainability. Rather than grousing about the...

Co-authored this @theurbanist.org op-ed last year with @jrock08.bsky.social and @nondriver.bsky.social and it still stands, timed entry or not. www.theurbanist.org/2024/12/17/o...

If you've been noticing 1 and 2 Line trains slowing down between International District and Symphony, it's because of a newly identified defect in the embedded rail at Pioneer Square.

It's set to be repaired just before the Crosslake Connection opens, during the March 21-22 DSTT closure.

Seattle Superbowl Victory Parade Spurs Ridership Records for Transit and Scootershare » The Urbanist # Sound Transit tallied a record-smashing day, exceeding 200,000 boardings on Link light rail during Seattle's victory parade day. Lime added nearly 60,000 rides on its shared scooters and e-bikes.

We've updated our article with the newly revised figure of 225,000 boardings on the Superbowl victory parade day, by far the high-water mark for Sound Transit's light rail ridership. www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/19/s...

Urbanist Podcast: Social Housing and Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability » The Urbanist # In this podcast episode, The Urbanist's newsroom dive into recent headlines including Katie Wilson's State of the City speech, which bills are moving and which are dying at the Washington State Legi...

NEW URBANIST PODCAST // Social Housing and Katie Wilson’s Four Pillars of Affordability

By Ryan Packer, Amy Sundberg and Doug Trumm, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/26/u...

The updated figure for light rail ridership for the Super Bowl victory parade earlier this month was 225,000, according to CEO Dow Constantine just now at the monthly ST board meeting.

That's 65,000 more riders than the previous one-day ridership record.

UPDATE: Seattle Public Libraries has issued a rebuttal on their blog and we have issues some clarifications and corrections in the piece. We regret the errors and omissions.

Eastsiders Pack ‘Save Issaquah Light Rail’ Rally » The Urbanist # The crowded community meeting was the first step in an advocacy campaign intended to persuade members of the Sound Transit board about the value of continuing light rail expansion on the Eastside. I...

NEW STORY // Eastsiders Pack ‘Save Issaquah Light Rail’ Rally

by Ryan Packer via @urbanistorg.bsky.social

www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/26/e...

Apply to Join The Urbanist Election Committee » The Urbanist # We’re looking for passionate, locally-engaged volunteers to help guide our political endorsements. Apply to join the The Urbanist Elections Committee by March 6.

NEW // Apply to Join The Urbanist Election Committee

We've extended our application deadline to March 6.

By The Urbanist Elections Committee, via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/26/a...

Excellent op-ed that everyone in Seattle should read.