Category Archives: Government

(re)Building Resilient Communities

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

As the impacts of climate change become more noticeable around the world, planners and politicians are taking steps to reinforce their cities against natural disasters. Though climate scientists stress that no single weather event can be attributed to climate change, … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Government, Housing, Land Use, Landscape, Megaprojects, Policy, Residential, Resources, Sustainability | Tagged 3C competition, barriers, beach, billions, buyout, climate change, coastal, defense, dunes, FEMA, flood zone, flooding, fortification, global warming, Hurricane Sandy, hurricanes, infrastructure, New York, ORLI, refugees, resilency, Sandy, sea level rise, seawalls, superstorm, winds | 6 Comments

Regional Light Rail Undergoing Expansion

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

With increasing ridership and voter support, regional transportation agency Sound Transit is expanding its services throughout the Puget Sound area. Formed in 1996 with the approval of King, Pierce, and Snohomish county voters amidst increasing traffic congestion, ST operates now … Continue reading →

Posted in Megaprojects, Rail, Transportation | Tagged Bellevue, Central Link, East, extensions, King County, light rail, Link, Lynnwood, metro, multi-modal, Northgate, public transit, Redmond, Seattle, sound transit, South Lake Union, stations, streetcar, Tacoma Link, University | 9 Comments

Seattle Planners Release Marijuana Map

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

City planners today at the Seattle Department of Planning and Development released a preliminary map of areas where marijuana farms, processors, and stores may be located within city limits. According to the Seattle Times, the areas have not yet not … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Government, Industrial, Land Use, Parks, Policy, Schools | Tagged department of justice, department of planning and development, distribution, farming, federal, growing, I-502, Initiative 502, land use, laws, map, marijuana, minors, parks, pot, pot shops, production, rules, sales, schools, Seattle, Washington, zoning | 3 Comments

Seattle’s Food Forest Takes Root

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

A new public food forest is opening over the next year in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood with fruit trees, shrubs, and other food plants that will be available to all visitors. The park will also have private gardening plots, known … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Food, Government, Land Use, Landscape, Policy, Public Space, Sustainability | Tagged Beacon Food Forest, Beacon Hill, BFF, community garderning, food forest, Jefferson Park, local food, p-patch, permaculture, Seattle, urban agriculture, urban farming, urban gardening | 2 Comments

West Coast Leads Electric Vehicle Sales

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

As electric vehicles gain a foothold in the U.S. auto market, manufacturers are seeing their highest EV sales in west coast cities and states. Data from research firm R.L. Polk shows that Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are three … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Government, Policy, Roads, Transportation | Tagged charging, charing stations, electric, electric cars, EV, EVs, green highway, incentives, Los Angeles, Oregon, sales, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, west coast | 2 Comments

Study: U.S. Air Pollution Causes 200,000 Early Deaths Annually

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

A study published this summer by the MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment quantifies the startling health impact of air pollution on Americans’ health, finding that about 200,000 people die per year a decade before they otherwise would have. … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Energy, Policy, Transportation | Tagged air pollution, climate change, electricity generation, emissions, fossil fuels, industry, marine, MIT, pollution, power generation, premature deaths, rail, road transportation, study, vehicles | 1 Comment

Problems on SR-520 Floating Bridge Causing Delays, Cost Overruns

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

The project to replace the Governor Albert D. Rosellini/Evergreen Point Bridge, the world’s longest floating bridge, is facing costly delays due to design and construction problems by WSDOT and contractor Kiewit. Now due to open a year and a half … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Rail, Roads, Transportation | Tagged 520, Bellevue, bridge, concrete, construction, costs, delays, design, Eastside, engineering, floating bridge, funding, HOV, Kiewit, Lake Washington, lanes, light rail, new, pedestrian, rebar, replacement, Seattle, sound transit, State Route 520, steel, tolling, tolls, WSDOT | 6 Comments

New Columbia River Bridge Project Cancelled

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

The Columbia River Crossing, a joint venture between the Washington and Oregon departments of transportation, was recently cancelled. The project would have replaced the pair of Interstate 5 bridges, built in 1917 and and 1958, rebuilt several highway interchanges north … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, Land Use, Rail, Roads, Transportation | Tagged bridge, bridge lift, cancellation, Coast Guard, Columbia River Crossing, congestion, corridor, freight, funding, Hayden Island, I-5, Interstate 5, legislature, light rail, Oregon, Portland, project, safety, ships, Vancouver, Washington | 2 Comments

Seattle Waterfront Plan Remains Car-Centric

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

The Alaskan Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle, a concrete double-decker relic of the 1950s highway boom, was slated for removal after damage from the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. The WSDOT, in partnership with the City of Seattle, Port of Seattle, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Biking, Buses, Editorial, Government, Land Use, Landscape, Parks, Rail, Roads, Transportation | Tagged Alaskan Way, downtown, Highway 99, pedestrian, plan, Seattle, shoreline, street, tourism, transit, tunnel, urban design, viaduct, water, waterfront | 9 Comments

Washington State Ferries Upgrading Fleet

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Scott Bonjukian

The Washington State Ferries (WSF) system is the largest of its kind in the United States, operating 22 vessels and carrying over 22 million passengers per year on 10 routes. The service is operated by the state Department of Transportation … Continue reading →

Posted in Ferries, Government, Roads, Transportation | Tagged Bremerton, budget, department of transportation, fares, fleet, Mosquito Fleet, MV Hyak, MV Samish, MV Tokitae, Olympic class, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Seattle, Washington State Ferries, WSDOT, WSF | 1 Comment