Guides#

In-depth guides on specific urbanism topics in Seattle. Each guide provides background, current context, and resources to help you understand and engage with these issues.

Pick the question closest to what you’re curious about, or browse by category below.

How do I get around?#

• Link Light Rail – Link system details, regional transit timeline, future expansion, and Sound Transit funding
• Mass Transit – Buses, commuter rail, streetcars, ferries, and how the region funds transit
• Bike Network – Protected bike lanes, neighborhood greenways, and trails
• Micro Mobility – E-scooters, bike share, and how they work in Seattle
• Pedestrian Safety & Infrastructure – Sidewalks, crossings, Vision Zero, and how the city builds for walkers
• Car Share – The rise and fall of free-floating car sharing in Seattle
• Parking & Car Dependency – Parking minimums, vehicle ownership trends, parking reform, and the cost of car dependency

Where can housing go – and who decides?#

• Station Area Planning & TOD – Transit-oriented development, station area plans, Sound Transit’s TOD program, and state zoning law
• Public Housing & the Seattle Housing Authority – SHA’s portfolio, HOPE VI redevelopments, Yesler Terrace, Section 8 vouchers, and mixed-income strategy
• Renter Protections & Tenant Rights – Just cause eviction, rent stabilization, RRIO, relocation assistance, and right to counsel
• Commercial Zoning, Office Space & Retail Corridors – Commercial zoning types, neighborhood business districts, the office vacancy crisis, and storefront activation
• Small Business & Anti-Displacement Economics – Commercial gentrification, affordability programs, community benefit agreements, and business ownership models

What’s the city planning for the future?#

• Climate Action & Building Decarbonization – Climate Action Plan, BEPS, building electrification, Green New Deal, and transportation emissions
• Environmental Justice & Equitable Development – Redlining history, Duwamish Valley, equity frameworks, and anti-displacement tools
• Parks, Open Space & Urban Tree Canopy – Park District funding, open space planning, tree canopy loss, and green infrastructure
• Regional Governance & Agency Coordination – PSRC, Sound Transit, King County Metro, WSDOT, and how regional decisions get made

How did Seattle become what it is today?#

• Terraforming & Regrading – Hill regrades, tideland filling, the Ship Canal, Duwamish channelization, and how Seattle reshaped its terrain
• Waterfront & Pike Place Market – Viaduct removal, Waterfront Park, Overlook Walk, and Pike Place Market history and governance
• Earthquake Preparedness & Seismic Risk – Seismic hazards, unreinforced masonry buildings, liquefaction zones, and preparedness programs
• Historic Preservation & Landmarks – Landmark districts, the Landmarks Preservation Board, designation process, and preservation vs. density

Have a topic you’d like to see covered? Email us to suggest a new guide.