More and more people are driving farther and farther to get to work in the Seattle region.
According to recent analysis by the Puget Sound Regional Council, commute times in the region are continuing to increase.
Pierce County commuters have the longest average travel time at 32.5 minutes, followed by Snohomish County at 32.3 minutes and Kitsap County at 30.4 minutes. Commuters in King County had the shortest average commute at 29.9 minutes.
Moreover:
The share of commuters with long commutes (greater than 60 minutes) is growing. Across the region, the share of travelers with long commutes increased by 47% between 2010 and 2017.
On the flip side of this equation, the share of commuters with very short commutes is declining.
These figures stand in stark contrast to steady reports on Seattle's success in wooing commuters out of single automobile trips and into transit. While Seattle is regularly touted as a leader in transit ridership, the region is now ranks third among the nation's metropolitan areas in increasing super commuters.
FULL STORY: Region's workers spending more time commuting
The Disparate Racial Impacts of Commute Times
Commute times vary significantly depending on race, according to a recent study. The consequences of the imbalance have very real social and economic effects for already marginalized racial groups.
Transit Use Down, Remote Work Up in Seattle
Fewer workers in downtown Seattle are taking public transit to work thanks in large part to an ongoing move to remote work.
Tech Buses: Not Just for Techies, and Not Just for San Francisco
What began as Google buses, transporting highly paid engineers from San Francisco to Silicon Valley, has transformed into multi-company fleets serving white- and blue-collar workers in the 3,000-square-mile Northern California megaregion.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research