Home - The Urbanist

A broad array of transit advocates are asking King County Executive Girmay Zahilay to put forward a funding measure to boost investments in countywide transit service this year. The request is a tall order, and would require intense coordination with...

The crosslake connection will be a great leap forward, but more hurdles lie ahead for Sound Transit.
On a frostbitten Friday morning, a gaggle of officials and transit nerds gathered hot with anticipation for the unveiling of the opening day of the 2 Line’s “Crosslake Connection.” By the end of the event, most were glowing with excitement, warmed by...

Sound Transit could soon get a big leg up in its ability to permit long-planned light rail projects, if a set of reforms advancing at the Washington State Legislature are able to make it across the finish line in the coming weeks.
Despite receiving voter approval to build its projects — which are deemed essential public facilities under state law — Sound Transit regularly runs into delays when it comes to local permit approval. Those delays, which have been most acute in cities...

Belman is out as SDCI director and returning to Sound Transit.
Sam Steele will be the new interim head of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), Mayor Katie Wilson revealed in an email Monday to department employees. The 26-year veteran of City of Seattle government most recently served as...