The Urbanist

The Urbanist is a digital magazine located in Seattle that focuses on exploring and shaping urban policies. We are convinced that cities hold special potential for tackling some of the toughest challenges we encounter. Our platform acts as a hub for exchanging ideas, building community, and enhancing our living environments.

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Sunday Video: How Big Box Retailers Are Bankrupting Cities

1 week ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

Big box retail leaves a lot to be desired. While they offer an easy means to bulk and discount buy, they are hollowing out North American cities, reinforcing sprawl and driving while destroying local businesses and being a financial drain on communities. Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes explains all that and more in his latest video. Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities.
Fare Hike Proposal Would Increase Seattle Streetcar Rides to $3

2 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

Fares on the two-line Seattle Streetcar system could be going up this year. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced a fare change proposal on March 31, suggesting up to a 75-cent fare increase for regular adult fares in September. The 75-cent hike would increase regular adult fares from $2.25 to $3.00. The department is proposing to keep fares for ORCA Lift low-income riders and seniors (ages 65 and up) at $1.00.
Snohomish County Permits Childcare Providers More Places, State May Follow Suit

2 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

The Snohomish County Council is making it easier for childcare providers to locate in urban and rural areas under the county’s land use jurisdiction. An ordinance adopted March 19 on a 5-0 vote is removing numerous barriers from the county’s land use regulations, just as state legislators take on childcare siting reform statewide.
Sunday Video: The Technology That Makes San Francisco’s Transit Superior

2 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

Battery-electric buses have been increasingly foist upon transit agencies around the country despite their nascent nature. As a consequence, transit agencies are rapidly recognizing that battery-electric buses are a serious threat to reliability, service delivery, and bottomline. But there’s an electric bus technology that has existed for almost a century that continues to go untapped at scale.
Op-Ed: Bruce Harrell Is a Failed Mayor on Housing - The Urbanist

3 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Ron Davis

# Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has failed on housing, Ron Davis writes. Whether kickstarting a homegrown social housing push, encouraging a wide diversity of market-rate housing, or scaling up traditional nonprofit low-income housing to meet the need, Harrell’s halfhearted efforts have fallen flat.
Amtrak Begins to Restore Cascades Train Service with Relocated Trains

3 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

Amtrak will start restoring train trips on the Cascades service, after removal of 26 rail cars last Wednesday. The railroad has sourced Amfleet I rail cars from across the Midwest, New York, and North Carolina to supplement Horizon rail cars withdrawn from service over corrosion issues. As of today, five Amfleet I rail cars are in Seattle, after being pulled from Chicago on the Empire Builder. More Amfleet I rail cars are on the way to fill out and fully restore the Cascades service.
Snohomish County Relaxes Urban Accessory Dwelling Rules Ahead of State Deadlines

3 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

The Snohomish County Council has liberalized accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations once again in urban unincorporated areas, building on reforms enacted in 2021. The county council moved to provide more flexibility in the mixture of ADUs allowed on lots, allow ADUs to be created with more housing types, and revise and eliminate some performance standards in the latest package of reforms. In 2021, the county council made sweeping changes to encourage ADUs in urban areas.
Sunday Video: How Hoboken Is Taking on Road Safety, Vision Zero

3 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

Hoboken, New Jersey often flies under the radar given its proximity to New York City. The city of 57,000 is small, but could be easily mistaken as a sixth borough of New York City by the look and feel of the densely populated square-mile community. But what it really stands out for nationally is that it hasn’t been a street fatality since 2019, and the City has worked hard to implement Vision Zero redesigns on streets citywide. Ray Delahanty of CityNerd takes a look at what Hoboken has been doing.
King County Metro Resuming Fare Enforcement on March 31

3 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

After a five-year hiatus, King County Metro is restoring fare enforcement. The agency will focus its efforts on RapidRide lines, high-ridership bus routes, and both Seattle Streetcar lines, starting on Monday, March 31. The new fare enforcement system will be a lighter touch approach with several warnings before advancing to fines and alternative resolution paths.
Amtrak Shelves 70 Aging ‘Horizon’ Traincars, Upending Cascades Service Indefinitely

4 weeks ago | theurbanist.org | Stephen Fesler

A sudden national suspension of Horizon class rail cars has upended service on Amtrak Cascades, forcing some riders onto replacement bus service. The suspension applies to Amtrak’s entire Horizon fleet, which is affecting numerous routes across the country. Amtrak said in a statement today that inspectors discovered corrosion on several Horizon rail cars, which raised concerns with the aging equipment after speaking with the vehicle manufacturer.