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Sound Transit Board Abruptly Removes Key Committee Chair Ahead of Pivotal Year Ryan Packer - January 26, 2026 Claudia Balducci, the second longest serving member of the Sound Transit board, will no longer be a member of the committee she's lead since 2018. The swap out comes just as the board faces critical decisions around the future of the Sound Transit 3 expansion plan, work that will largely be hashed out in policy committees. Read more var block_tdi_691 = new tdBlock(); block_tdi_691.id = "tdi_691"; block_tdi_691.atts = '{"custom_title":"Recent Posts","ajax_pagination":"","block_template_id":"td_block_template_8","tdc_css":"eyJhbGwiOnsiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9fQ==","f_header_font_family":"471","f_header_font_style":"oblique","f_header_font_weight":"400","f_more_font_style":"","f_more_font_transform":"uppercase","td_ajax_filter_type":"td_category_ids_filter","td_ajax_filter_ids":"122, 99, 224, 42, 97, 223, 479, 3, 221, 43, 18, 105","td_filter_default_txt":"","td_ajax_preloading":"","border_color":"#000000","f_ajax_font_transform":"","m11f_cat_font_transform":"","offset":"1","limit":"7","m10f_title_font_size":"18","m10f_ex_font_size":"14","m10_el":"23","m10_tl":"12","m10f_ex_font_family":"fs_1","m10f_title_font_family":"394","block_type":"td_block_11","separator":"","custom_url":"","post_ids":"","category_id":"","taxonomies":"","category_ids":"","in_all_terms":"","tag_slug":"","autors_id":"","installed_post_types":"","include_cf_posts":"","exclude_cf_posts":"","sort":"","popular_by_date":"","linked_posts":"","favourite_only":"","open_in_new_window":"","show_modified_date":"","time_ago":"","time_ago_add_txt":"ago","time_ago_txt_pos":"","review_source":"","el_class":"","f_header_font_header":"","f_header_font_title":"Block header","f_header_font_settings":"","f_header_font_size":"","f_header_font_line_height":"","f_header_font_transform":"","f_header_font_spacing":"","f_header_":"","f_ajax_font_title":"Ajax categories","f_ajax_font_settings":"","f_ajax_font_family":"","f_ajax_font_size":"","f_ajax_font_line_height":"","f_ajax_font_style":"","f_ajax_font_weight":"","f_ajax_font_spacing":"","f_ajax_":"","f_more_font_title":"Load more button","f_more_font_settings":"","f_more_font_family":"","f_more_font_size":"","f_more_font_line_height":"","f_more_font_weight":"","f_more_font_spacing":"","f_more_":"","m10f_title_font_header":"","m10f_title_font_title":"Article title","m10f_title_font_settings":"","m10f_title_font_line_height":"","m10f_title_font_style":"","m10f_title_font_weight":"","m10f_title_font_transform":"","m10f_title_font_spacing":"","m10f_title_":"","m10f_cat_font_title":"Article category tag","m10f_cat_font_settings":"","m10f_cat_font_family":"","m10f_cat_font_size":"","m10f_cat_font_line_height":"","m10f_cat_font_style":"","m10f_cat_font_weight":"","m10f_cat_font_transform":"","m10f_cat_font_spacing":"","m10f_cat_":"","m10f_meta_font_title":"Article meta info","m10f_meta_font_settings":"","m10f_meta_font_family":"","m10f_meta_font_size":"","m10f_meta_font_line_height":"","m10f_meta_font_style":"","m10f_meta_font_weight":"","m10f_meta_font_transform":"","m10f_meta_font_spacing":"","m10f_meta_":"","m10f_ex_font_title":"Article excerpt","m10f_ex_font_settings":"","m10f_ex_font_line_height":"","m10f_ex_font_style":"","m10f_ex_font_weight":"","m10f_ex_font_transform":"","m10f_ex_font_spacing":"","m10f_ex_":"","ajax_pagination_next_prev_swipe":"","ajax_pagination_infinite_stop":"","css":"","td_column_number":2,"header_color":"","color_preset":"","border_top":"","class":"tdi_691","tdc_css_class":"tdi_691","tdc_css_class_style":"tdi_691_rand_style"}'; block_tdi_691.td_column_number = "2"; block_tdi_691.block_type = "td_block_11"; block_tdi_691.post_count = "7"; block_tdi_691.found_posts = "7682"; block_tdi_691.header_color = ""; block_tdi_691.ajax_pagination_infinite_stop = ""; block_tdi_691.max_num_pages = "1098"; tdBlocksArray.push(block_tdi_691);

Sunday Video: What is ‘Carbrain’? Stephen Fesler - January 25, 2026 In this video, Ray Delahanty of CityNerd takes a dive into what "carbrain" is and how it affects how roads and highways are designed.

Gas Works Park in November before the COVID crisis. (Photo by author)

Op-Ed: Shortening Seattle Park Hours Was Misguided, Failed to Promote Safety Pauly Tarricone - January 24, 2026 Seattle’s Summer Safety Plan and its earlier closing time for city parks is bad news for people who count on evening park access, including artistic communities. Crime data does not support the claim that most parks are trouble spots, but they are vital spaces for many communities.

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Will Finally Connect Across I-90 on March 28

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Will Finally Connect Across I-90 on March... Ryan Packer and Doug Trumm - January 23, 2026 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 expansion will bring stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island online.

Seattle Streetcar Faces Uncertain Future as Newest Line Turns Ten Ryan Packer - January 23, 2026 As the First Hill Streetcar celebrates a decade carrying riders, questions mount about the future of the Seattle Streetcar network as a whole. With a plan to finally connect the two existing lines being declared dead, the status quo is likely not sustainable.

An aerial view of a large highway bridge.

Urbanist Podcast: Olympia Preview and a Highway Boondoggle Doug Trumm - January 22, 2026 In this podcast, The Urbanist newsroom previews Washington's state legislative session and breaks down the huge setback dealt to the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project, a highway boondoggle with a ballooning budget. Plus, Amy and Doug recounted their first interview with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson since she's been installed in office.

Washington to Scrutinize Eight Local Housing Plans Under New Accountability Law Ryan Packer - January 22, 2026 The reviews are the first to take place under the 2025 Housing Accountability Act, intended to spur housing construction by reducing barriers added at the local level. Growth plan reviews are one step in a process that could lead to ramifications for governments that don't make changes, including the much-discussed "builder's remedy."

Sound Transit Seeks Hail Mary Financial Tool to Complete ST3 Buildout Ryan Packer - January 21, 2026 With creative tools needed to get the entire Sound Transit 3 network across the finish line as planned, Sound Transit is turning to the idea of 75-year bonds. If the Washington State Legislature OKs the concept, the move would mean extending debt to finance light rail projects into the next century.

Features

Wilson wears a black blazer and stands on the balcony outside her seventh floor office, with the downtown skyline in the background

One Week In, Katie Wilson Charts the Path Ahead Doug Trumm and Amy Sundberg - January 13, 2026

The Pacific Northwest’s Biggest Highway Project Could be Cooked Ryan Packer - January 12, 2026

Washington’s First Try at E-bike Rebates Leaves Thousands of Vouchers Unredeemed Ryan Packer - December 26, 2025

Passengers board and disembark at Westlake Station's northbound platform.

Eliminating Second Seattle Rail Tunnel Could Save $4.5B, But With Major Impacts, Delays Ryan Packer - December 13, 2025

Councilmember Rob Saka sits on the council dais in a tan sportscoat.

Seattle Approves Controversial Police Guild Contract, Three Councilmembers Dissent Amy Sundberg - December 11, 2025

Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail Ryan Packer - December 8, 2025

Events

Join Us for Our January Socials and North Sound Election Debrief Diego Batres - January 5, 2026 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.

A reading nook in The Collective includes a mural of a mountain range

Two Weeks Until The Urbanist’s Winter Holiday Party Diego Batres - November 26, 2025 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.

About a dozen people are pictured sitting or standing with their bikes in a park.

Support Our Work

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Eastside Coverage

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Will Finally Connect Across I-90 on March... Ryan Packer and Doug Trumm - January 23, 2026 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 expansion will bring stations at Judkins Park and Mercer Island online.

Bellevue Could Take State Parking Reform to the Next Level Ryan Packer - January 20, 2026 The Eastside's largest city could ultimately go much further than the new statewide baseline in providing flexibility for builders when it comes to costly off-street parking stalls. Recent elections in Bellevue have likely changed the conversation that's ahead.

A before and after image shows Eastgate now (low-slung sprawl) and after an urban transformation with midrise and some highrise towers

Op-Ed: Light Rail Could Transform Bellevue’s Eastgate into Urban Oasis Cosmos Darwin (Guest Contributor) - January 18, 2026 Adding a light rail stop next to Bellevue's decommissioned airport could unlock more than 100 acres for dense urban development, boosting the potential of the planned line to Issaquah. Like Bel-Red or the Spring District, Eastgate could be the next Bellevue neighborhood to transform with transit-oriented development.

One Seattle Plan

Katie Wilson Looks to Beef Up Seattle’s Housing Growth Plans Ryan Packer - January 17, 2026 Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Rico Quirindongo, the city's planning director, seem to be on the same page about revamping the city's growth plans to allow for additional housing density. The City appears set to largely stay the course on scheduled rezone work in 2026, but queue up additional growth centers and broader transit corridor upzones to enact in 2027.

Foster smiles and stands in the atrium of Council Chambers with the south downtown skyline in the background.

Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead Ryan Packer - December 17, 2025 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.

Transportation

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Will Finally Connect Across I-90 on March 28 Ryan Packer and Doug Trumm - January 23, 2026

Seattle Streetcar Faces Uncertain Future as Newest Line Turns Ten Ryan Packer - January 23, 2026

Urbanist Podcast: Olympia Preview and a Highway Boondoggle Doug Trumm - January 22, 2026

Sound Transit Seeks Hail Mary Financial Tool to Complete ST3 Buildout Ryan Packer - January 21, 2026

Bellevue Could Take State Parking Reform to the Next Level Ryan Packer - January 20, 2026

Op-Ed: Light Rail Could Transform Bellevue’s Eastgate into Urban Oasis Cosmos Darwin (Guest Contributor) - January 18, 2026

Land Use/Housing

Sunday Video: North America Has an Elevator Problem Stephen Fesler - January 18, 2026

Katie Wilson Looks to Beef Up Seattle’s Housing Growth Plans Ryan Packer - January 17, 2026

Katie Wilson Orders Denny Bus Lane to Help Route 8 Riders Doug Trumm - January 15, 2026

2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing Ryan Packer - January 14, 2026

Dionne Foster Takes Office, Aiming to Tackle Housing Issues Doug Trumm and Ryan Packer - January 8, 2026

More land use/housing posts »

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Commentary

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Uproot ICE Penal Colonies Like Tacoma’s GEO John Burbank (Guest Contributor) - January 10, 2026

Op-Ed: Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters Emily Moore - January 8, 2026

Op-Ed: Sea-Tac Airport Transportation: Off the Road and Onto the Train Toshiko Grace Hasegawa - January 7, 2026

Op-Ed: Why Kitsap County Can’t Stop Sprawling Travis Merrigan - January 6, 2026

Op-Ed: Seattle’s Path to Fund Inclusionary Zoning and Boost Homebuilding Ron Davis (Guest Contributor) - December 30, 2025

Op-Ed: A Tale of Two Cities — Why Do Plazas Empty Us? Jae Seong Cho - December 27, 2025

Videos

Sunday Video: What is ‘Carbrain’? Stephen Fesler - January 25, 2026

Sunday Video: North America Has an Elevator Problem Stephen Fesler - January 18, 2026

Sunday Video: Seoul Removed Highway, Restored River, and Traffic Got Better

Sunday Video: Seoul Removed Highway, Restored River, and Traffic... Stephen Fesler - January 11, 2026

Podcasts

Urbanist Podcast: Olympia Preview and a Highway Boondoggle Doug Trumm - January 22, 2026 In this podcast, The Urbanist newsroom previews Washington's state legislative session and breaks down the huge setback dealt to the I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project, a highway boondoggle with a ballooning budget. Plus, Amy and Doug recounted their first interview with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson since she's been installed in office.

Wilson supporters hold yellow "This is your city" signs. She stands at the lectern and and a man adjust the mic to her height.

Urbanist Podcast: New Year, New Mayor, New Budget Doug Trumm - January 8, 2026 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.

A line of people approach Federal Way Downtown Station, with a train waiting at the elevated platform.

Urbanist Podcast: A Light Rail Opening and Police Accountability Door Closing Doug Trumm - December 18, 2025 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.

More podcast episodes »

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Recent Posts

Sunday Video: What is ‘Carbrain’? Stephen Fesler - January 25, 2026 In this video, Ray Delahanty of CityNerd takes a dive into what "carbrain" is and how it affects how roads and highways are designed.

Features

One Week In, Katie Wilson Charts the Path Ahead Doug Trumm and Amy Sundberg - January 13, 2026

The Pacific Northwest’s Biggest Highway Project Could be Cooked Ryan Packer - January 12, 2026

Washington’s First Try at E-bike Rebates Leaves Thousands of Vouchers Unredeemed Ryan Packer - December 26, 2025

Eliminating Second Seattle Rail Tunnel Could Save $4.5B, But With Major Impacts, Delays Ryan Packer - December 13, 2025

Seattle Approves Controversial Police Guild Contract, Three Councilmembers Dissent Amy Sundberg - December 11, 2025

Thousands Pack Trains for Launch of Federal Way Light Rail Ryan Packer - December 8, 2025

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Events

Join Us for Our January Socials and North Sound Election Debrief Diego Batres - January 5, 2026 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.

Join Us for The Urbanist’s November and December Events Diego Batres - November 12, 2025 Join for The Urbanist for our upcoming social meetups, Comprehensive Plan organizing, and our big holiday party extravaganza.

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Eastside Coverage

One Seattle Plan

Transportation

Sound Transit’s 2 Line Will Finally Connect Across I-90 on March 28 Ryan Packer and Doug Trumm - January 23, 2026

Seattle Streetcar Faces Uncertain Future as Newest Line Turns Ten Ryan Packer - January 23, 2026

Urbanist Podcast: Olympia Preview and a Highway Boondoggle Doug Trumm - January 22, 2026

Sound Transit Seeks Hail Mary Financial Tool to Complete ST3 Buildout Ryan Packer - January 21, 2026

Bellevue Could Take State Parking Reform to the Next Level Ryan Packer - January 20, 2026

Op-Ed: Light Rail Could Transform Bellevue’s Eastgate into Urban Oasis Cosmos Darwin (Guest Contributor) - January 18, 2026

Land Use/Housing

Sunday Video: North America Has an Elevator Problem Stephen Fesler - January 18, 2026

Katie Wilson Looks to Beef Up Seattle’s Housing Growth Plans Ryan Packer - January 17, 2026

Seattle Social Housing Board Fires CEO, Taps McCoy as Interim Leader Doug Trumm - January 16, 2026

Katie Wilson Orders Denny Bus Lane to Help Route 8 Riders Doug Trumm - January 15, 2026

2026: The Year the Washington Legislature Catches Its Breath on Housing Ryan Packer - January 14, 2026

Dionne Foster Takes Office, Aiming to Tackle Housing Issues Doug Trumm and Ryan Packer - January 8, 2026

Commentary

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Uproot ICE Penal Colonies Like Tacoma’s GEO John Burbank (Guest Contributor) - January 10, 2026

Op-Ed: Katie Wilson Can Be Seattle’s Climate Mayor for Renters Emily Moore - January 8, 2026

Op-Ed: Sea-Tac Airport Transportation: Off the Road and Onto the Train Toshiko Grace Hasegawa - January 7, 2026

Op-Ed: Why Kitsap County Can’t Stop Sprawling Travis Merrigan - January 6, 2026

Op-Ed: Seattle’s Path to Fund Inclusionary Zoning and Boost Homebuilding Ron Davis (Guest Contributor) - December 30, 2025

Op-Ed: A Tale of Two Cities — Why Do Plazas Empty Us? Jae Seong Cho - December 27, 2025

Videos

Sunday Video: What is ‘Carbrain’? Stephen Fesler - January 25, 2026

Sunday Video: North America Has an Elevator Problem Stephen Fesler - January 18, 2026

Sunday Video: Seoul Removed Highway, Restored River, and Traffic... Stephen Fesler - January 11, 2026

Podcasts