A hundred people gathered in Tacoma, WA, to mourn the death of 13-year-old Michael Weilert, who was recently killed while bicycling in his neighborhood. If we want to prevent more tragedies like this, then we must redesign our streets.

Top StoryMarlene DrukerOctober 13, 2022car crash, biking, bikes, bikeability, bicycling, bike lanes, bike infrastructure, safety, washington, stroad, safe and productive streets 3 Comments

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is…Moving from Planning to Action

Strong Towns member Spencer Gardner is the new planning director for the city of Spokane, WA, and he’s been helping his city take action on important housing issues.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 1, 2022urban planning, Incremental Housing, accessory dwelling unit, podcast, washington Be the First to Comment

Remove Highway 99: A Crazy Idea in “Deep” South Park

What was once a fringe idea to convince the state of Washington to turn a section of Highway 99 over to local control has grown into a publicly funded action.

Top StoryJay StangeAugust 31, 2022highways, freeway removal, freeways, urban freeways, suburban experiment, washington, end highway expansion Be the First to Comment

Spokane Opens the Door for Middle Housing Expansion

Last week, the city council of Spokane, WA, voted on a truly “bold, transformational package” that will allow for more forms of missing-middle housing and infill development in the city.

Top StoryJay StangeJuly 27, 2022housing, zoning, missing middle, city council, local government, infill, Infill Development, Incremental Housing, incrementalism, incremental, success stories, washington Be the First to Comment

Flying Blind: Why Public Leaders Need an Investment Grade Analysis

Portland and Oregon leaders shouldn’t commit to a $5-billion project without an investment grade analysis (IGA) of toll revenues.

Top StoryJoe CortrightJune 17, 2022infrastructure, infrastructure cost, infrastructure spending, DOT, washington, transparent local accounting, oregon 3 Comments

Stanwood Mulls Strong Towns-Style Main Street Makeover

This small town is considering overhauling its main street to embrace walkability and good old-fashioned main street urbanism.

Top StoryDoug TrummJune 13, 2022downtown, main street, revitalization, walkability, urbanism, success stories, rural, washington, small towns Be the First to Comment

How to Calm a Street, Starting with Your Own Anger

Frustrated by cars speeding down your neighborhood street at 40 mph? Don’t blame the people driving the cars.

Top StoryJay StangeMay 5, 2022tactical urbanism, roads, streets, safety, taking action, Street Design, speeding, traffic engineering, pedestrians, washington, stroad, safe and productive streets 10 Comments

You Need to Know About Walla Walla, Washington

This small city in Washington has been quietly making some very big zoning changes…

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 18, 2021zoning, single-family, upzoned, washington, podcast Be the First to Comment

Sustainable Source of Income Snatched Away from Seattle's Black Churches

Churches in Seattle could provide affordable housing for their communities, while gaining a sustainable source of income…if they weren’t being obstructed by city leaders.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsAugust 4, 2021housing, housing crisis, churches, Faith Featured, upzoned, podcast, washington Be the First to Comment

Strong Towns and the "15-Minute City"

There’s a lot of conversation about how cities can become “15-minute cities.” What role does the Strong Towns approach play?

Top StoryJohn PattisonJune 25, 202115-Minute Cities, member story, success stories, washington Be the First to Comment

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Creating a Coffee Shop for the Whole Neighborhood

Coté Soeren’s “Resistencia” coffee shop in Seattle is a space for community connection and support, not gentrification.

Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsMay 27, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, neighborhood revitalization, coffee shops, gentrification, taking action, neighborhoods, washington Be the First to Comment

Round 2: Bentonville, AR vs. Kenmore, WA

Vote now in Round 2 of the Strongest Town Contest! Which city should advance to the semifinals?

Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 22, 2021Strongest Town 2021, washington, arkansas, strongest town contest Be the First to Comment

Bellingham, WA vs. Lockport, IL

Cast your vote! Who should advance to Round 2 in the sixth annual Strongest Town Contest?!

Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 15, 2021Strongest Town 2021, washington, strongest town contest, illinois 1 Comment

Coaldale, AB vs. Kenmore, WA

Cast your vote! Who should advance to Round 2 in the sixth annual Strongest Town Contest?!

Top StoryStrong TownsMarch 15, 2021Strongest Town 2021, strongest town contest, canada, washington 1 Comment

The Fight For #NoNewRoads Is Alive and Well in Washington State

Veteran advocates for a sane and financially sustainable transportation policy in Washington State see a chance to turn crisis into opportunity. And they're hoping to get state leaders to see it too.

Top StoryStrong TownsFebruary 3, 2020infrastructure spending, washington, end highway expansion 2 Comments

"Carmaggedon" Does a No-Show in Seattle. Again.

Not for the first time, the Car-pocalypse failed to materialize around Seattle’s new SR-99 tunnel. This is further proof we’ve been underestimating commuters’ ability to adjust to transportation changes. Have we also been overestimating how much they value these multibillion-dollar megaprojects in the first place?

Top StoryJoe CortrightNovember 18, 2019traffic congestion, congestion, toll roads, traffic engineering, washington 29 Comments

The real reason why Bill Gates' and Jeff Bezos' posh suburb is going broke

Medina, Washington is struggling to pay its bills. How can this be? And what does it mean for towns and cities that don’t have the two richest people in the world living there?

Podcast, Top StoryKea WilsonNovember 1, 2019suburbs, taxes, infrastructure, washington 5 Comments

In Conversation: Strong Towns and Restorative Justice (Part Two)

At the heart of top-down approaches to both criminal justice and city planning is a misconception about true “efficiency.” Restorative justice — like Strong Towns — is the bottom-up alternative, drawing from the wisdom of the past while taking the longview on success.

Strong America Tour, Top StoryJohn PattisonOctober 25, 2019Criminal Justice, Restorative Justice, spooky wisdom, Law, efficiency, washington, infrastructure, strong america 3 Comments

In Conversation: Strong Towns and Restorative Justice (Part One)

In the criminal justice system, as in city planning, the perceived need for “efficiency” is often at odds with the deeper needs of the community. Yet that’s not how our societies evolved to handle conflict. How can we restore some of the wisdom of the past? A fascinating conversation about the intersection of restorative justice and building stronger towns.