All things APA WA!

Issue 45

Month: Febuary 2026

This month's newsletter includes:

President’s Corner | By Anne Broache, AICP

February is the month of Valentine’s Day, so what better time to talk about what we love and, as planners often do, what we’d love to improve?

This month, we’re kicking off a refresh of the APA Washington website, led by our office staff and a small committee of Chapter Board members. 

Planner's Pick

Each month, we're featuring standout planning-related content - books, podcasts, films, and more. Read this month's Planner's Pick.

Got a favorite? Send it our way for next month’s picks!

Reimagining Cherry Street in Sumas: WWU Students Plan for Environmental Resilience

Western Washington University planning students are working with the City of Sumas to reimagine Cherry Street (SR 9), focusing on pedestrian improvements, economic vitality, and flood resilience while supporting recovery from recent flooding.

AICP Certification: Spring 2026 Updates

As you support candidates this spring, please note that the AICP Certification Scholarship application window will be open February 2–27.

Exam registration is still targeted for April, though it may extend into early May as we finalize systems to ensure a smooth registration experience.

Inside the 2026 State
Legislative Session

The 2026 state legislative session got started on January 12 with a steady stream of bills affecting planning. Your APA WA Legislative Committee has been hard at work identifying bills of interest to the Chapter, doing analysis to understand the effects of planning-related bills, and advancing the chapter’s legislative priorities with the indispensable help of our chapter lobbyist, Mike Shaw.

Planner Learning Opportunities

Keep your planning skills sharp by diving into exciting topics like APA’s 2026 Trend Report, creative housing solutions, and clean energy incentives. Opportunities to earn Law and Sustainability & Resilience CM credits are available in the coming weeks, so be sure to mark your calendar. Find more information on upcoming webinars and Washington Planners’ Forums below.

More Big Things Happening! 

10 Critical Elements That Will Make Tomorrow’s Downtowns

UDP Lecture

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 

Time: 6:00 PM–7:30 PM

Location: On the UW Campus

Join renowned urban planner Mitchell Silver at the University of Washington as he explores the ten key elements shaping the future of downtowns. As demographics and consumer preferences evolve, Silver will share insights on parks, public spaces, and mixed-use development, and what these trends mean for vibrant urban centers. 

 

                           Trivia Question

The “Highways to Boulevards” movement is most closely associated with which idea?

 A. Widening freeways to reduce congestion
 B. Converting aging urban freeways into surface streets or boulevards
 C. Adding tolls to existing freeways
 D. Burying all freeways in tunnels 

 

Interested in submitting an article for the next newsletter?

Contact the APA WA Communications Committee! Email Riya Debnath and Ben Braudrick at [email protected].

American Planning Association, Washington Chapter

[email protected] | (206) 682-7436 | www.washington-apa.org