UW Sustainable Transportation - Planning & Livable Communities

07/14/2026

Seattle's shared e-bike and scooter program surpassed 10 million rides in 2025, a record that reflects growing interest in micromobility and alternative transportation options across the city.

Our director Don MacKenzie (Sustainable Transportation Lab Director and Allen & Inger Osberg Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering) is in The Daily discussing the role e-bikes and e-scooters can play in reducing transportation emissions, improving access, and supporting a more sustainable transportation system. He notes that shared micromobility is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it can be an important part of a broader strategy to expand transportation options and reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles.

Seattle e-bike and scooter ridership sets records in 2025, plays key role in sustainable transportation

06/28/2026

We're incredibly proud to celebrate the UW Master of Sustainable Transportation Class of 2026.

This cohort came together with a wide range of professional backgrounds, and over the past three years it has been a pleasure to get to know them. From their first days together to their final capstone projects, they brought thoughtful questions, lived experience, and fresh perspectives into the classroom.

They dug into how transportation systems shape the places we live, how they intersect with environmental outcomes, and how policy, health, and economics show up in the built environment.

Thank you for your hard work, curiosity, and care. It has been a true privilege to have you in our student community.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. We are so excited to see the impact you'll make next.

06/12/2026

How do cities understand what autonomous vehicles are actually doing on their streets?

The new Autonomous Vehicle Observation (AVO) Zone Challenge brings together District Department of Transportation, Southwest Business Improvement District, and US Ignite, and academic partners Mobility Innovation Center at UW CoMotion and GW Engineering to explore new ways to collect data on autonomous vehicle operations in a dense urban environment. The challenge seeks technologies that can track and identify AV activity and provide data on how AVs interact with pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and other roadway users. The goal is to help cities better understand AV operations and support future planning, policy, and public accountability.

Learn more and apply by July 16:

The AVO Zone Challenge seeks solutions that can detect, monitor, and analyze AV activity in DC. It is sponsored by DDOT, US Ignite, and SWBID.

04/28/2026

The MST program is marking an important transition, as Prof. Edward McCormack passes the baton to Prof. Don MacKenzie after more than eight years leading the program.

Throughout his time as Director, Ed has focused on supporting students, helping them build professional connections in the transportation field and bring classroom learning into practice. We are grateful for everything he has contributed over the years, and we are glad that he will continue with the program as Director Emeritus.

We are also excited to welcome Don MacKenzie as our new Director. Don is a familiar face in the community as an instructor of several courses, and he leads the Sustainable Transportation Lab. His research has helped shape conversations around transportation systems, electrification, and sustainability. He brings deep expertise in these areas, along with a strong commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders in sustainable transportation.

Please join us in thanking Ed and congratulating Don on this transition.

04/18/2026

Drive the transition to cleaner, more equitable transit systems.

Our Master’s degree in Sustainable Transportation and Livable Communities Certificate program combine engineering, policy, and urban planning to help you tackle today’s mobility challenges. Join us for an info session on May 27th to learn more.

Attend info sessions and other events for the UW Master of Sustainable Transportation degree. Find out about the requirements and deadlines.

04/18/2026

Ready to shape the future of mobility? Our Master of Sustainable Transportation and Certificate in Livable Communities prepare you to work across engineering, policy, urban planning, and environmental science. Learn how you can lead the transition to cleaner, more equitable transit systems at our May 27th info session:

Attend info sessions and other events for the UW Master of Sustainable Transportation degree. Find out about the requirements and deadlines.

04/17/2026

Build real-world skills in sustainable transportation. Join us for an online info session to explore the Master of Sustainable Transportation, capstone project, Certificate program, and how the curriculum connects theory to practice.

Register for our April 28 info session.

Attend info sessions and other events for the UW Master of Sustainable Transportation degree. Find out about the requirements and deadlines.

03/20/2026

Apply for admission to the UW Master of Sustainable Transportation and we'll pay your application fees. Start your journey in sustainable transportation, urban planning, policy, and engineering this September.

University of Washington's online Master of Sustainable Transportation degree prepares you to help shape the future of transportation.

01/21/2026

While ecommerce has transformed how we shop, new research co-authored by our instructor Travis Fried (teaches CET 566: Environmental Analysis & Assessment) shows that the environmental cost of "next-day delivery" is not shared equally.

Analyzing data from more than 3,000 U.S. counties over a decade (2011-2020), this study identifies a widening gap driven by two key factors:

1. Demand-oriented inequity: Cities near freight hubs or transit corridors experience emissions far higher than their local freight demand would justify.
2. Socioeconomic status-oriented inequity: Minority communities located near freight networks see higher emissions alongside declining household incomes.

These findings reveal deep spatial disparities in urban freight systems and highlight the need for environmental justice-focused transportation planning at national, regional, and city levels.

The full paper, “Increasing nationwide disparities in road freight emissions across cities,” is published in Nature Cities by Springer Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-025-00368-x